DR, B, F, STEPHENSON, 



FOUNDER OF THE 



Grand Army of the Republic. 



A MEMOIR, 



BY HIS DAUGHTER, 

MARY HARRIET STEPHENSON, 



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'APB13 \m^ .1 



SPRINGFIELD : 

THE H. W. EOKKBR PRINTING HOUSE. 
1894. 






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•Ahs^ 



Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1894. 

By MARY HARRIET STEPHENSON. 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. G. 



DEDICATION. 

To THE Grand Army of the Republic. 



To that army of heroes, christened by the smoke 
and blood of battle-fields, sealed their country's own 
by the hardships, privations and dangers endured in 
her cause; who left their pleasant firesides and offered 
their comfort, their worldly prosperity, yea even life 
itself, on the alter of their native land, the smell of 
which offering went up as a sweet savor to the God 
of Battles; our country's stay and pride; they who 
stand now, as they stood in the terrible days of 
1861-G4, the Bulwarks of the Nation's defense, in the 
van of Freedom's great hosts; pledged to Loyalt^^, 
Fraternity, Charity; that army whic^i has dried the 
tears of so. many soldiers' widows and orphans, which 
has enabled the scarred and aged veteran to tread 
the last steps of his way to his reward surrounded by 
comforts and honored by his country; which takes 
tender and beautiful care of the helpless and the 
afflicted; which lives in every day of its life its beau- 
tiful motto: to this army of great hearts, from the 
brave Major General to the humblest wooden-legged 
hero who is proud to don the blue on G. A. R. days, 
this little volume, eontaining the history of one who 
loved them all, and labored for their good, is respect- 
fully and affectionately dedicated, by its author. 

January 12, 189^. " 



PREFACE. 

A very great majority of the veterans of the Grand 
Army of the Republic know but little more of their 
founder than his name, and until a few years ago, few 
outside of Illinois knew even the name of the man who 
originated their order. I have deemed it my duty to 
set forth my father's life and character, so that all 
veterans might know him and his work. 

The memoir is not so complete as I had wished it to 
be, on account of the material for collecting informa- 
tion being meagre and scattering. Great quantities of 
my father's papers were destroyed soon after his death 
by my mother. She did not think them valuable. 
Had she known their importance she would not have 
destroyed them. 

I desire to acknowledge my debt of gratitude to those 
who have so kindly assisted me by furnishing anec- 
dotes, items of interest, and various data. My father's 
very dear friend, and mine, also, I am proud to believe, 
Major John F. Nolte, of Independence, Kansas, not 
only very promptly and enthusiastically responded to 
my request for items, but has cheered, enthused, and 
encouraged me amid the discouragements of my under- 
taking, so that I feel that I owe him a debt of grati- 
tude which mere words can never express. I wish to 
thank, also, very cordially. Col. Daniel Grass, of Inde- 
pendence, Kansas, for his valuable information so 
kindl^^ furnished, and for his many kind wishes for the 
success of my undertaking. Mr. Samuel Walker, of Lay, 



VI PREFACE. 

Kansas, Gen. James C. Veach, of Kockport, Indiana, 
Miss Josephine P. Cleveland, of the State Historical Li- 
brary, Springfield, 111., D. C. Brinkerhoff, Commander 
Stephenson Post, Springfield, 111., Col. Frederick Phis- 
terer, present Adjutant-General, G. A. R. U. S., and Mr, 
J. H. Spears, of Elmwood, Neb., have all very kindly 
furnished me with items, for which I take the present 
opportunity to renew my thanks. Gen. Beath's History 
of the Grand Army of the Republic has furnished some 
of the items relating to the Indianapolis convention, 
and three succeeding ones. 



CONTENTS 



PART I. 

PAGES. 

Dr. Stephenson's Youth and Early Manhood 1-15 

PART II. 

His Army Life 16-37 

PART III. 

The Founding of the Grand Army of the Republic 38-71 

PART IV. 
Conclusion 72-7(3 



DR. B. F. STEPHENSON, 



FOUNDER or THE 



Grand Army of the Republic. 



PART I. 



"Haply some hoary-headed swain may say, 
'Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn, 

Brushing with hasty steps the dews away. 
To meet the sun upon the upland lawn. 

'There, at the foot of yonder nodding beech 
That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high. 

His listless length at noontide would he stretch, 
And pore upon the brook that babbles by.' " 

"Honor and shame from no condition rise; 
Act well your part, there all the honor lies.'^ 

The self-made man does not exist, has never existed. 
The environments of circumstance mold us to an extent 
Ave often fail to realize. But sift out these environ- 
ments, and a larc^er residuum of individuality would 
remain in some characters than in others. Here and 
there we find a soul so great that it wages war against 
circumstance, subdues it, and well nigh molds it to its 
will. Before, however, the great soul has gained the 



2 A MEMOIR OF 

power of overcomino- all opposing circumstances, envi- 
ronments will have left their indelible impress on it. 
And even in its all-conquering career, the sensitive 
•essence is being constantly modified by forces outside 
itself. The mark of the conflict is impressed on the 
Ibody, over which circumstance must finally prevail. 

Most men, if they would form noble characters and 
achieve worthy things, must gird on their armor and 
do valiant battle with hostile environments, and the 
earlier they enter the fight the greater the degree of 
probable conquest. 

The achievement of an end is called success. A man 
may esteem himself unsuccessful, may even be so judged 
by his friends, and yet, for all that, he may have 
achieved those ends toward which the bent of his nature 
tended, which were the natural sequence of his charac- 
ter. Such an one, in the opinion of the writer, was the 
subject of this sketch. 

James Stephenson, the father of Dr. Stephenson, was 
a native of South Carolina, but emigrated to Kentucky. 
There he met and married Margaret Clinton, a native 
of North Carolina. After residing here for a time, he 
again removed his household goods to a new country, 
this time taking up his abode in IHinois. 

In Wayne county, Illinois, October 3, 1823, Benjamin 
Franklin Stephenson was born. He was one of the 
younjrer members of a large family. Since ancestry 
combines with circumstance in forming character, some 
further account of James and Margaret Stephenson 
seems admissible. 

Mothers are very important factors in the molding 
of character, and, in studying the life of a man, one of 
the first questions which presents itself is always "What 



DR. STEPHENSON. 6 

kind of a mother had he?" But, although Dr. Stephen- 
son had a very o;ood mother, it would, in all proba- 
bilit\', be fair to estimate the influence of his father's 
character on his to have been fully as ^reat as that 
of his mother. 

James Stephenson was a man whom to know was 
to esteem and love; the ideal father, kind, yet firm. 
His was the philosopher's nature, calm and logical. 
His heart was kind, his judgment ripe, his nature 
manly. Well do I remember tlie tones of reverence 
and pride with which his children spoke of him after 
they had become gray-headed men and women. He 
was a man of strong religious convictions, and be- 
lieved that the religious code was for every-day use. 
A careful student of the Bible, and what other books 
his limited means admitted of his possessing, he im- 
planted in his children a love for knowledge. His na- 
ture was large and broad enough to take in the idea 
that others might hold different opinions from his 
own and yet be honest in their convictions, holding 
them by the same right by which he held his. Liberal 
minded, large hearted, he was neither inclined to strain 
at a gnat nor to swallow a camel. 

Margaret Stephenson was one of those model house- 
wives, energetic and capable, warm-hearted and hos- 
pitable. A woman of extraordinary spirit and deter- 
mination. One of her relatives, not a. direct ancestor, 
however, was Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declara- 
tion of Independence. It is related that when, in 
company with those other bold men who took their 
lives in their hands, Charles Carroll affixed his name, 
the other gentlemen remarked, "You can sign safely 
enough. There are so many Carrolls the British Gov- 
ernment will never know which one it is." Carroll, 



4 A MEMOIR OF 

who had laid down his pen, immediately seized it 
ap^ain and wrote after his name "of Carrollton," thus 
distinguishino; himself from others of the same name. 

When Frank, for this was the abbreviation by which 
Dr. Stephenson was known in his youth, was about 
three years of age his father removed from Wayne to 
Sangamon County, and in the latter county Frank 
passed his early youth. There were eleven children in 
the family'-, and Dr. Stephenson was the seventh. Only 
three of this large family now survive, Mrs. Jacob 
Swingle, Mrs. A. E-. Houghton, and Mrs. Wm. Spears, 
all residing, at present, near Petersburg, 111. 

Many a hard task did these hardy pioneer children 
accomplish, many a simple pleasure did they enjoy 
together. And among them none was more mischiev- 
ous or fonder of fun than Frank. He teased his 
younger sisters, and played pranks on the older ones, 
and often was the worth3^ mother driven to her wits 
ends to preserve order among her large and lively 
family. 

The schools to which my father was sent were such 
as the new country afforded. One end filled with a 
big fireplace which roasted your face while your back 
froze, or vice versa, the seats of split logs and walls 
innocent of plaster. The spaces left between the logs 
for the purpose of admitting light were nicknamed 
windows. The "master" flourished a big ferule, and 
was not sparing of its use, for in those days "lickin' 
and larnin'" was the creed. Notwithstanding these 
extremely primitive educational advantages, Frank 
learned rapidly what the rural pedagogue professed 
to teach. The curriculum, however, extended but lit- 
tle beyond the three R's. When still quite young, he 



DR. STEPHENSON. 5 

was noted for his proficiency in spelling, and, in the 
rural spelling schools, he was quite a champion. 

In those early days, in my grandfather's neighbor- 
hood, the more intellectually inclined had an institu- 
tion which they called polemics. It resembled the 
modern lyceum or debating club. My father, even as 
a child, took great delight in these meetings. Noth- 
ing could please him more than to be taken to the 
polemics. I have heard one of my aunts say that, 
after attending one of these meetings, my father could 
remember and repeat almost everything he had heard. 
Perhaps these rude country debates sowed the seeds 
of that patriotism which was such a passion with him 
in after life. 

The fare of these early Illinois settlers was simple in 
the extreme. Of course they had plenty of meat, what 
with game, and the stock for which there was very 
little demand in the markets in those times. They had 
plenty of corn meal, also, and quantities of vegetables; 
plenty of butter, honey, and berries in their season. 
Honey was a very useful article of food to the early 
settlers ; for they, like the ancients, used it in place of 
sugar. This was because of the scarcity of money and 
distance of the markets. If the settler's wife's honey- 
jar was empty, he could soon find a bee-tree, and thus 
replenish the larder. They knew nothing of canning 
fruit, and, of course, had to wait for apples, pears and 
peaches, until their orchards grew up; but they dried 
berries, and, occasionally, made preserves of them, 
sweetening with honey. My grandmother made several 
varieties of corn bread, but the favorite kind was that 
called corn pone. It was a loaf baked in an iron oven, 
surrounded by glowing coals, and with coals heaped on 
the lid. When baked, the bread was white and sweet. 



6 A MEMOIR OF 

Wheat bread and cake were baked only on rare occa- 
sions; such as weddino's, or, occasionally, when strange 
company was present. 

The country was so infected with malaria, in those 
times, that the settlers were obliged to prepare for the 
regular yearly attack of chills and fever. Their clothes 
were both home-made and homespun, the spinning and 
weaving of cloth being a regular occupation of the 
women of the household. 

The settlers' families were widely scattered. Spring- 
field, even, was only a village, and the nearest church, 
or preaching station, was several miles distant. My 
grandfather used to call the family together on Sun- 
days, and have scriptural reading. Sometimes, they 
would meet at the house of a neighbor and read the 
Bible together. My grandfather's library consisted 
chiefly of books on church doctrine, expositions of the 
Bible, moral philosophies, etc. There were, however, 
among the books, some histories and a few volumes 
of poetry. Of these, Frank's chief favorite was Milton, 
over whose sublime pages he was accustomed to pore 
in his boyhood's leisure hours. In politics, my grand- 
father was' a Whig, and took several newspapers, 
among others, the "New York Observer." The children 
were entertained and instructed b^^ the excellent stories 
of the "Youth's Companion." 

One of my grandfather's near neighbors was a very 
superstitious old woman, who used to tell my father 
marvelous stories about Yahoos. These gentry were 
a headless species of ghost, of frightful aspect. Not- 
withstanding the counteracting precepts of his parents, 
these stories made considerable impression on him. 
Apropos of Yahoos, a story I have heard my father 



DR. STEPHENSON. 7 

tell comes to me from the dim regions of the past. 
As nearly as 1 can recall, it was as follows : 

One day my father was sent to the mill for meal. 
By the time the miller got ready to serve him, it w^as 
quite late, and, as soon as he had gotten a little meal 
ready, my father, whose imagination was so much in- 
flamed by the stories of the above-mentioned neigh- 
bor that he had become nervous about riding alone 
in the dark, begged the miller to let him take what 
was already ground, and go without waiting for any 
more; but the miller insisted on filling the meal sack, 
and made him wait for it. So, when he at last started 
for home, it was late, and he had quite a distance to 
go. The shadows thickened around him rapidl^^, and 
soon night was upon him. As the solitary boy rode 
through the dark w^oods, all the dreadful stories of 
Yahoos to which he had listened came vividly ta 
mind, and the poor child's nerves became completely 
unstrung. Straining his eyes along the dark path^ 
suddenly an apparition appeared, which caused every 
hair to stand on end, sent the chilled blood back to 
his heart, and caused the perspiration to stand out 
in great beads on his forehead ! A Yahoo ! There wa» 
the horrible headless monster right before his eyes! 
He was lost! Nearer and nearer it came; the fright- 
ened boy, shaking as with ague, crouched down on his 
horse and had not even the nerve to turn and flee. 
At length it suddenly emerged from the deeper shadows 
close to him, and lo, blessed relief! it was a belated 
neighbor, wending his way along the woodland path! 
The greatly relieved but somewhat mortified lad pur- 
sued the even tenor of his way home, but encountered 
no more Yahoos. It amused my father greatly to 
tell this story in later years. 



8 A MEMOIR OF 

Frank, like the other boys of his time and locality, 
only spent a brief portion of his life in the school- 
house. He attended school a little in the winter, and 
worked on the farm in spring, summer, and autumn; 
but he was eager for what knowledge he could acquire. 
Especially as he grew older, approached young man- 
hood, the craving to know what was to be known, to 
mingle with others in the busy outside world, and 
accomplish great and worthy things, possessed hiui. 
This feehng was doubtless fostered by the example of 
an elder brother. William Stephenson had gone out 
from his father's roof, chosen the profession of medi- 
cine, and, settling in Iowa, had become quite success- 
ful. He had built up a good practice, and was running 
B> drug store. Feeling that this profession, with its 
glorious possibilities, was also his choice, my father 
went out to his brother, at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, 
about 184G, or when he was about twenty-three years 
old. On this period of his life, I have not been able 
to get much light. He clerked in his brother's drug- 
store, and read medicine with his brother and Dr. 
Clarke. There were many Indians around Mount 
Pleasant at that time, and Frank had many amusing 
experiences with them. While here, he was quite an 
enthusiastic member of a society called Sons of Tem- 
perance. His father had always been a strong tem- 
perance man, and had been very careful about the 
habits acquired by his sons. One winter, while mak- 
ing his home here, he attended medical lectures at 
Columbus, Ohio. He returned, however, to Mount 
Pleasant. Finally, erysipelas attacked both Dr. Wil- 
liam Stephenson and Frank. The latter, after a severe 
-and protracted illness, finally recovered, but his brother 



DR. STEPHENSON. 9 

died. As soon as Frank was able, he left the place 
and came home to his father, in Illinois. 

During the winter of '49 and '50, he attended medi- 
cal lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and re- 
ceived his diploma from that institution, dated Feb- 
ruary 7, 1850. 

Meanwhile, my grandfather had removed to Menard 
County, Illinois, and was living on a farm about seven 
miles south of Petersburg. Hither my father came, 
broken down in health, as a result, probably, of the 
severe sickness which had brought him so near death's 
door, combined with the exertions he had put forth 
to finish his medical education. Here, in the neighbor- 
hood of Rock Creek, Menard County, my father rested 
and recruited his strength for a period of about a year 
and a half. In his own words : " I came to this county 
(Menard) with fifty cents in my pocket. * * j ^yag 
weak, cadaverous, and entirely out of health." 

During this period of rest and recuperation, my 
father "read Shakespeare and other kindred works," 
mingled with the young people of the neighborhood 
in their rural pastimes, and practiced medicine a little. 
His health improved considerably, and he decided to 
locate in Petersburg, 111., a pretty little village nestling 
among the green hills on the banks of the historic 
Sangamon. Here he soon built up a large practice. 

About this time. Dr. Stephenson's father removed 
from his farm to Petersburg. At the time of the re- 
moval, there were two unmarried sisters still at home, 
but the elder of the two married soon after the father 
went to Petersburg. The younger remained at home 
a few years longer, and kept house for her father, the 
mother being blind and almost helpless. 



10 A MEMOIR OF 

Dr. Stephenson and his next older brother were very 
social young men. It was "hail fellow, well met, and 
won't yon come up to dinner?" to all their acquaint- 
ances. They were a very hospitable family, but the 
constant unheralded stream coming up after dinner 
was on the table, was a little hard on the housekeeper, 
Dr. Stephenson's sister. ''But," she said to me once, 
in recalling these reminiscences, "I never minded any 
trouble I. took for Frank." He had so many virtues, 
and he made people love him so that they ignored 
his faults. 

Dr. Stephenson was very genial and companionable, 
and gathered about him many friends. He early 
showed great skill in his profession, which he followed 
with the energy that characterized all his undertak- 
ings. He was vitally interested in each patient, at- 
tending him assiduously, and, if necessary, watching 
night and day by his bedside. Mor did he neglect the 
study of medicine and surgery from books and peri- 
odicals, thus keeping up the studies which he had pur- 
sued when attending lectures.. He was diligent, both 
in acquiring theory, and in putting that theory in 
practice. Socially, he was always at the service of his 
friends, and he w^as universally considered a "good 
fellow." 

Deciding to share the cares of his practice, Dr. 
Stephenson entered into partnership with Dr. Cabanis. 

Let us see, now, what had been the influences at 
work on the pioneer boy, and into what manner of 
man he had developed. Growing up in a new country, 
bis young eyes constantly beholding the face of un- 
tamed nature, the rude cabins and ruder barns and 
smokehouses of the settlers, scattered sparsely over 



DR. STEPHENSON, 11 

the face of the wide prairies and surrounded by their 
corn patches, seeming but to emphasize the insignifi- 
cance of man as compared to nature, what wonder if 
great mother Nature herself touched the eager impres- 
sible boy's heart with her magic wand. What wonder 
if, all unconsciously, he drew in largeness of heart and 
breadth of soul, that comprehensive vastness of s^-m- 
pathy which included in its grasp all human nature. 
Observant, eager, impressible, he absorbed into his 
rapidly expanding nature the impressions he received 
day b^^ day, 

I see the boy some star-light night after the hoes 
have been laid aside, the cows milked, and supper has 
been eaten, lying prone on the dewy grass, his 3'oung 
head resting on his arm, gazing up at the blazing 
jewels of the sky, I imagine him inquiring, "Father^ 
what are the stars? What gives them their beautiful 
light? Are the}'' so very far away?" and kindred ques- 
tions. His father gives him some information; he 
longs to know more. His reasoning power is knock- 
ing at the gate of consciousness, his mental and moral 
powers begin to expand, and he feels a half-conscious 
thrill of power, as yet untried and in its infanc3\ The 
country debates delight the child's heart. He hears 
patriotic speeches made. His country begins to be an 
object of. reverence to him. Men have died for love of 
country. Ah, when he becomes a man, he, too, may 
sacrifice his life for his native land ! That would be a 
glorious death, thinks the boy. He learns something 
of political and economic questions, too, at these de- 
bates, and, perhaps, begins studying the Constitution 
of his country. 

The Black Hawk War and other Indian wars were 
discussed by his father and older brothers, and doubt- 



12 A MEMOIR OF 

less he listened to many a thrilling tale of adventure 
with Indians. Sitting at the knee of father or mother, 
he drank eagerly in stories of the revolutionary war, 
and the adventures of his ancestors, or other relatives, 
in those troublous times. Ever eager for a story 
of life and experience or a scrap of knowledge, the boy 
grew year by year both in stature and mental calibre. 

At length, however, a new and startling experience 
touches him. An elder brother is stricken by death. 
The parents are distracted by grief, the children awe- 
stricken. The father leads his sons to a solitary place, 
and there pours out his soul in earnest prayer for 
those still left him. The solemnity of this death, and 
its accompanying circumstances, sink deep into Frank's 
heart. Within a few years, five of his brothers and 
sisters are claimed by death, nearly half that large 
family say their last farewell to earthly friends and 
pass over to the great beyond. Upon so loving and 
faithful a heart as Frank's all this must have made a 
powerful impression. The breath of the fell destroyer 
had brushed his cheek, warning him that life is uncer- 
tain, that sorrow follows joy with fleet and noiseless 
footstep. When death comes near us, it marks our 
souls indelibly. We are never the same afterwards. 
The successive deaths left their impress then on the 
boy's heart, broadening and deepening it, although, 
at the same time, touching it with the shadow of the 
world's pain. 

When he left his childhood's home, and went out to 
learn his chosen profession and make for himself a 
place and a name in the world, his horizon broadened; 
he met new faces, came into contact with new charac- 
ters. He made warm friends; the reciprocal affection 



DR. STEPHENSON. 13 

expanded his nature, called into play its great, unself- 
ish tenderness. He also experienced coldness, selfish- 
ness, and ingratitude. These had, of course, their 
inevitable result of tending to weaken his faith in 
human nature; but so great was his heart, so bound- 
less his faith in his fellow men, naturally, that, all 
through his life, he was constantly pinning his faith to 
others, but, eventually, to be deceived and wounded. 

When, after receiving his diploma, he returned to his 
father's house, during the period of recuperation he 
had time to reflect, to assimilate the impressions he had 
received. He communed with great minds in literature. 
The grand thoughts of that m^^riad-minded bard, Wil- 
liam Shakespeare, were incorporated into his being. 
When he commenced the practice of medicine, new ex- 
periences crowded upon him. The physician has an 
excellent opportunity to observe human nature in its 
various phases. He came in contact with, aud received 
impressions from, various characters, realizing both 
the bitterness and sweetness of human nature. 

On the 30th of March, 1855, the marriage of Dr. 
Stephenson to Miss Barbara B. Moore was celebrated 
at Springfield, 111. Miss Moore was a native of Ken- 
tucky. She had emigrated to Springfield, 111., with her 
father, in 1853. Concerning the domestic relations of 
my father, I can truly say that he was a most affec- 
tionate and exemplary husband and father. Such was 
his character, and so uniform his tenderness towards 
his family, that words fail me to express the affection, 
akin to worship, with which his children regarded him, 
and still regard his memory. 

Soon after his marriage, Dr. Stephenson was ur2:ently 
solicited by the trustees and faculty of the prospective 



14 A MEMOIR OF 

Iowa Medical Colleo-e to take a professorship in that 
institution. He agreed to do so, and during the win- 
ters of 1855 and '5(3, '56 and '57, he lectured there on 
General, Special, and Surgical Ana.tomy. The college 
was located at Keokuk, Iowa, and was designed by its 
founders to be the chief institution of its kind in the 
West. The}'' were very enthusiastic in regard to it, 
and students were solicited and obtained from the 
neighboring States, especially the adjacent ones of 
Missouri and Illinois. Dr. Stephenson entered into the 
duties of his office with characteristic enthusiasm. He 
labored faithfully and untiringly in lecture and dissect- 
ing room, and during vacation canvassed the State of 
Illinois for students. He intended to return to Keokuk 
in the fall of 1857 to deliver another course of lectures, 
but was prevented, much to his disappointment, by 
sickness in his family. His relations with the faculty 
of Iowa Medical College were exceptionally pleasant, 
and, after his active connection with the institution 
was severed, out of respect to him, personally, and 
gratitude for his services, the trustees continued to 
publish his name in connection with the institution. 

Dr. Stephenson was, doubtless, always interested in 
politics, but the beginning of Taylor and Fillmore's 
administration was, probably, the time from which 
may be dated the commencement of that enthusiastic, 
constant, and active interest which characterized his 
later years. At that time, minds both north and south 
of Mason and Dixon's line were being powerfully agi- 
tated by the slavery question; and, from the beginning 
of this administration to the civil war, slavery was 
the all-absorbing topic. Such orators as Wendell Phil- 
lips and such writers as Harriet Beecher Stowe were 



DR. STEPHENSON. 15 

enough to fire the blood of the most stolid and iinini- 
pulsive of men. What, then, must have been their 
effect on the <»;enerous, unselfish, and just nature of 
Dr. Stephenson? He loathed, as such a nature as his 
must ever loathe, slavery, that foul blot, that plague 
worse than leprosy, since it destroys souls, as well as 
bodies, wherever it exists. 

Throughout Pierce's administration the slavery 
versus anti-slavery controversy grew hotter and hot- 
ter. At length, new party lines were drawn, and those 
opposed to the extention of slavery mustered their 
forces to the polls under the name of Republicans. 
They, however, were defeated by the democrats, and 
James Buchanan was elected. 

By the time Mr. Lincoln was nominated, political 
feeling had reached a yqtj high pitch, indeed. Dr. 
Stephenson took enthusiastic interest in this cam- 
paign, and his admiration for "Honest Old Abe" was 
unbounded. 

Lincoln is elected ; the South secedes and forms its 
separate government. After the inauguration of the 
new president comes the news of the firing on Fort 
Sumter. 

The Omnibus Bill, the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, with 
Douglas' advocacy of "Squatter-Sovereignty, " the 
Dred Scott Decision, John Brown's Raid, the Secession 
of the Southern States, the firing on Fort Sumter, in 
turn, had agitated the people until they were wrought 
up to white heat, and the North was made ready for 
that wonderful response it made to President Lincoln's 
call for volunteers, when the requisition for seventy- 
five thousand troops was responded to by hundreds 
■of thousands. 



16 A MEMOIR OF 



PART 11. 



'May all our boys who fall be found 
Where men lie thickest at the front, 
Where brave hearts bore the battle's brunts 
Contesting every inch of ground; 
Though well we know dead men to be 
But broken tools that Freedom flings 
Aside, alas! as useless things, 
In carving out her destiny." 

Union men of both political parties hastened to re- 
spond to the president's call for troops. 

Dr. Stephenson was among- the first to offer his 
services, and enlisted at Jacksonville, Illinois. He was 
appointed surgeon of the 14th Illinois Infantry Volun- 
teers, Col. John M. Palmer commanding the regiment. 
His regiment remained at Camp Duncan, Jacksonville, 
until the 16th of June, 1861, when it started for 
Quincy. In writing this part of the biography, I shall 
make frequent extracts from a history of his regiment, 
written by my father for the Rev. Dr. Eddy's history 
of some kind. 

"Encamped north of the city (Quincy) on the after- 
noon of the same day (June 16th); called (this place) 
Camp Wood. The day we left Camp Duncan we had 
a full regiment, every company being to the maximum, 
1,010 enlisted men, 39 commissioned officers, 1,049 in 
all. We remained in Camp Wood until the night of 
the 4th of July, when a report came that Union men 
were being murdered at Canton, Missouri. Adj. Gen. 
Morton ordered us there in great haste. 



DR. STEPHENSON. 17 

''We landed at Canton on the ni<2,-ht of the 4th, or 
rather, the morning- of the 5th of July, formed line of 
battle and double-quicked up throuo-h the town and 
took it in fine style, not finding; an enemy in sight. 
Col. Palmer marched his men to the rear of the town 
and encamped. We remained there until the 8th, when 
we received word that Col. Smith of the IGth was sur- 
rounded at Monroe Station, and about to be captured 
by the rebel Tom Harris. Lieut. Col. Johnson had 
gone out some distance in the country, with five com- 
panies, in search of Mart. Green. He ran across some 
of them and fired into them and saw some evidence 
that these shots had taken effect. At this point, a 
courier met him, ordering him back to Canton, and 
as soon as he returned we all embarked on the steamer 
Black Hawk, and went to the relief of Col. Smith, 
Got to Hannibal, then took rail and went out. Found 
Smith in no danger, no enemy in sight. He liad been 
attacked by the enemy with a six-pound bomb-piece at 
very long range, and had made several holes through 
the female college in which they were encamped." 

From this place they were ordered to several others 
in turn, and finally stationed to guard the North Mis- 
souri Railroad, or a. portion of it, for a time. While 
the regiment was at Rolla, Mo., about the middle of 
September, Dr. Stephenson left it, Dr. G. T. Allen being 
appointed surgeon in his place. His leaving the regi- 
ment at this time was not the result either of any 
cooling of his loyalty, or any dereliction in the per- 
formance of duty, as the following testimonial, gotten 
up by the officers of his regiment, and signed by 
twenty-eight names, will show : 

—2 



18 A MEMOIR OF 

"We, the iindersio:ned officers of the 14th Regiment, 
lUinois Volunteers, feeling- it to be our duty in order to 
do justice to our former surgeon, Dr. B. F. Stephen- 
son, of Menard County, Illinois, to state that his dis- 
charge from service in this regiment is not because of 
a want of professional skill, or from any act of his in 
his private relations, but, on the contrarj^, his conduct 
as a gentleman has been such as no man could take 
exception to, and that we believe he is excelled bv few 
in his profession, having had charge of our regiment 
for near four months, and not having lost a single 
man under his immediate treatment since his connec- 
tion with the regiment, and having treated in hospital 
and otherwise some six or seven hundred cases of dis- 
ease, and performed sundry operations in surgery ; 
and that we, together with our entire command, are 
entirely satisfied with him in every particular, and that 
we fear, and some of us have good reason to know, 
that his discharge has been the result of a wicked 
combination, brought about by persons having a per- 
sonal animosity against him, outside of the regiment." 

They were first brigaded and divisioned at Tipton, 
Mo., before the Springfield campaign. Palmer was pro- 
moted to command the brigade. 

The regiment was at Fort Donelson when Dr. Ste- 
phenson rejoined it, having been reappointed about 
February, 1862. He arrived, "owing to delay occa- 
sioned by lack of transportation, just as the garrison 
surrendered." His narrative goes on to say: "We re- 
mained here sometime; men very unhealthy, owing to 
eating mortified aecesh bacon captured there. We were 
then brigaded and divisioned. Our division was com- 
posed of two brigades, the first brigade comprising the 
41st Ilhnois, 3d Iowa, 32d and 28th Illinois, com- 



DR. STEPHENSON. 19 

manded by Brig. Gen. J. G. Laumen, of Iowa. The 
second brigade, the 14th. 15th and 4(5th Illinois and 
25th Indiana, commanded by Col. J. C, Yeatch, of 
Indiana." 

They were now a portion of the Army of the Ten- 
nessee, under Grant, and having a definite object in 
view. They marched from Fort Donelson to Fort 
Henry. There they embarked in a fleet of 118 trans- 
ports, headed by the gunboats Lexington and Tyler. 
They ascended the river to Savannah, Tenn., remained 
there ten days, then went up to Pittsburgh Landing. 
Here they disembarked and camped on the west side 
of the river, in open woods, on what has since become 
the famous battle-o-round of Shiloh, or Pittsburgh 
Landing. I quote again from my father: 

"This ground is covered with large oak trees, with 
very little undergrowth; in some places, however, there 
is considerable. Above the landing, where our left 
rested on the top of a ridge, the large trees were not 
so plenty, and for probably half a mile or moi"e it was 
thickly studded with undergrowth; this is the place at 
which the enemy undertook to turn our left and cut 
us off from the river, and some idea may be formed 
of the desperation of the engagement, when I tell you 
that I examined this part of the line after the battle 
was over, and the entire undergrowth was cut off with 
bullets at an even height of about four or five feet; 
hardly a single twig was left standing, not one that 
had not been touched with a ball. I, in company with 
Capt. J. P. Walker, of the 17th Illinois Infantry, after- 
wards Lieutenant Colonel of the 85th IHinois Infantry, 
counted the balls in two large oak trees, of about an 
average size and having about an average number of 
'wounds." We counted eiirhtv-five musket balls in one 



20 A MEMOIR OF 

and eio-hty-seven in the other. One had two cannon 
balls and the other three, I see I am ahead of my 
story, as well as running off on a side track. 

"We remained here until the 1st of April; regiment 
not in good health, owing to exposure at Fort Donel- 
son and eating some mortified bacon there captured 
from the rebels. 

"On the evening of the 4th of April some slight skir- 
mishing occurred; we were called out in line of battle. 
After remaining perhaps an hour, we were ordered 
back to quarters. Ou the 5th, Gen. Grant reviewed 
the troops in an old field. It was a mild, sunshiny 
day, such as we have here in May, and we returned 
to camp feeling pleasant and comfortable. The morn- 
ing of the 6th was more beautiful still; there was a 
soft, balmy, hazy atmosphere; the sun came up broad 
and full, and shone through the tree-tops, casting long- 
shadows on the ground and across our white tents. 
Everything looked beautiful when I got up to break- 
fast. I could see the men sitting down by their camp- 
fires cleaning and scouring up their guns. Many of 
them had them 'unbreached,' taken all to pieces, in 
order to clean them more easily and effectually; all 
looked happy and quiet. Poor fellows! it makes my 
heart sick to think how soon they passed in review 
before the final Judge! I had just sat down to my 
breakfast, and had barely commenced eating, when 
the battle opened like a clap of thunder a hundred 
times multiplied, and continued an indefinite length of 
time. That terrific roar still sounds in my ears. * * 

"In a moment, appai'ently, every gun was put 
together; each man, with the 'harness of war' on, 
was fast swinging into line; the column was immedi- 



DR. STEPHENSON. 21 

ately formed, and we commenced our march to the 
front. Immediately came the 'tlying- mass;' the hills 
were covered with men, on horse and on foot, flying 
at full speed for the Tennessee river. Many of them 
our officers tried to stop, but a stone wall twenty feet 
high and ten feet thick would have been no hindrance. 
All discouraged our men with this kind of remark, 
'Our command is cut all to pieces!' 'You go on, if 
you like; you'll catch h— 1, directly.' This is very hard 
for any troops to stand. Then came the wounded, on 
litters, in ambulances, and supported by men walking 
on foot, holding up a broken arm. etc. This is the 
hardest sight for soldiers. I could see the men look 
at each other anxiously; some of them turned very 
pale. Knowing they had great confidence in me, I be- 
gan to rally them and joke them; told them I was 
going into action with them (which I did). Then the 
chaplain. Rev. W. J, Rutledge, that noble, courageous 
and godly man, whom every soldier who knew him 
loves and reveres, came to the rescue, and cheered 
them ; told them he would stand by their side, and 
most nobly and gallantly did he fulfill his promises, 
often carrying men to me in his arms, on his back, 
and any wa}^; and once, in trying to get a poor boy 
off the field, my horse, on which he rode, was shofc, 
and he had to get down and carry the man on his 
shoulder. 

"His words seemed to inspire the men with new life, 
and they marched boldly up to the enemy. The enemy 
was coming with but little resistance. They came up 
to within about seventy yards of our line before we 
discovered who they were. They had a regiment of 
Louisiana Zouaves in front, with blue uniforms, very 
similar to our own, and they carried the 'Stars and 



22 A MEMOIR OF 

Stripes' in front. When they o^ot within about sev- 
enty yards, the Butternuts were discovered, and that 
eagle-eyed soldier. Gen. Hurlbut, ordered the men to 
fire, which the^^ did with an excellent aim. Had it 
not been foi- this timely fire, they would have mur- 
dered almost all of us; but this thinned their ranks 
and rendered their aim unsteady. Yet their fire was 
terrific. They immediately threw down the Union flag- 
and hoisted their own rag; then there was a fight. 
As well as I could judge, we lost about thirty or forty 
killed, and about one hundred and forty wounded, in 
less than twenty minutes. 

''By this time I had gotten fairl3' to work. I lost 
sight of the immediate action of the regiment until the- 
next day; but it continued in action all day, in the 
midst of the engagement, fighting as well as any other 
regiment, and no better; for men all fight alike; and 
all men will fight (there are a few exceptions) just as 
long as their officers stay with them; and when you 
hear of a regiment or comyjany behaving badlj'', set it 
down its officers have set the example. Again, it. is 
too common a practice with officers to extol their 
own commands and detract from others. * * * 

"That night after the battle closed, which w^as after 
dark, the command had been driven back until the left 
rested at the steamboat landing. Right here let me 
digress and correct a very common error fallen into 
by almost all who have described that battle. It is 
generally described in this way, — that the rebels drove 
us back to the river, where we hardly had ground to 
stand on, that is, our whole line driven in. Nothing 
is more fallacious. At this point the river runs almost 
due north; our line was formed exactly at right angles 
with the river, or east and west; our left resting on 



I)K. STEPHENSON. 23 

the river bank, our right extending' out several miles, 
and protected on the right by a little creek. Now we 
fell back in regular order, moving the whole line to- 
gether; that is, our second line. Our front line, com- 
manded by two as brave officers as ever drew a sword, 
was surprised and broken up. I don't care what any 
body says to the contrary, Prentiss fought well and 
hard, perhaps rashly and improperh', and so did Sher- 
man: but what was saved of their line fell back to 
ours, the second, and fought like devils. As I said, at 
night our left rested at the lauding, and extended di- 
rectly west, as it did in the morning. The enemy under- 
took to turn our left from the river, but failed. The 
place I mentioned, where the underbrush was so ter- 
ribly cut, is the ground on which this attempt was 
made, and shows how determined was the attack; and 
the immense piles of dead men show how desperate 
was the resistance. 

"Soon after dark, it commenced raining; the weather 
changed ; a cold disagreeable north wind sprang up, 
and the poor men, after fighting all day, many of them 
without breakfast, were compelled to lie down in the 
rain, with gun in hand, and cartridge box on, without 
anything to eat, and, in fact, too tired to eat if they 
had had any food. And yet they slept soundly and 
apparently sweetly, notwithstanding the fact that it 
rained in torrents. 

"Late in the afternoon. Gen. Wilson came up on the 
other side of the river with 15,000 men, and they suc- 
ceeded in crossing over by night, and, by Monday 
morning, about 30,000 of Gen. Buell's command had 
crossed. Our men were so miserably cut up and worn 
out, that they were allowed to get a little to eat, while- 



24 A MEMOIR OF 

Buell's men brought on the engagement, with our 
broken ranks to support them. 

"Buell opened the battle in most beautiful style, and 
by nine o'clock our men were refreshed a little and 
went again eagerly into the fight. If there is any 
beauty in a terrible battle, in the wholesale slaughter 
of our fellovv creatures, this beauty was manifest in 
Monday's battle. Everything was conducted with sys- 
tem ; every maneuver was performed with military 
precision. Whereas, on Sunday, all was disorder and 
confusion, and hard, bull-dog fighting, on Monday, 
everything moved like clock work. 

"I could tell but little difference in the position of the 
two great contending armies until after ten o'clock, 
when I could see the enemy giving ground. They con- 
tinued falling back until about four o'clock P. M., 
when it became a complete rout; and, at dark, Gen. 
Grant called off the troops. Thus ended the famous 
battle of Shiloh." 

This was the battle as it appeared to Dr. Stephen- 
son, who thought he saw as much of it as "any one 
man." He was six times inside the enemy's lines on 
Sunday, and, while he "tried to do his duty, he also 
tried to see all he could." He was amused at, and dis- 
gusted with, many of the accounts of this great battle 
published soon after its occurrence. They were contra- 
dictory and inconsistent. He mentions a certain news- 
paper correspondent who, in his diagram of this battle, 
"placed himself exactly midway between two contending 
batteries, at close range, and playing on each other 
with all the energy of good soldiers." 

I have inserted this description of the battle of Shi- 
loh, partly because to me it seemed interesting, partly 



DR. STEPHENSON. 25 

because it was written by an eye-witness and may differ, 
in some particulars, from tlie descriptions of other eye- 
witnesses, and partly because it seems to me to exhibit 
the character of its writer. Enthusiastic in his admira- 
tion of excellence in his particular friends or heroes, 
3"et, withal, anxious that justice should be meted to 
everyone according to his deserts. 

Dr. Stephenson won golden opinions for himself in 
this battle. It is possible for a surgeon to show him- 
self as brave as the bravest; and, while he in his own 
account has been modest in mentioning his own deeds, 
spending his enthusiasm on his friends, others have 
left evidence that their surgeon was not behind the 
rest in valor. In a document addressed to Gen. Beloit, 
and recommending Surgeon Stephenson for a position 
in the projected Ranger Service, I find the following: 

"In the bloody conflicts of Shiloh and Hatchee, he 
faithfully and persistently prosecuted his duties, despite 
of shot and shell and charging squadrons round him." 

For meritorious services in this battle, Gov. Yates 
conferred on Dr. Stephenson the rank of Major. Some- 
where near this time, I think before the battle, he was 
appointed Brigade Surgeon. 

During, and for some time after, such hard-fought 
battles, the regimental sui'geons were kept very busy, 
none more so, probably, than Dr. Stephenson. A cer- 
tain soldier was wounded so severely that one of his 
limbs would have to be amputated. His regimental 
surgeon was so busy that he could not immediately 
attend to him, and the case was urgent. His life was 
in danger. A friend left his suffering comrade for a 
time, and went in search of a surgeon. He came upon 
Dr. Stephenson and proffered. his request. The wounded 



2G A MEMOIR OF 

man was from another State and had not been at all 
associated with Dr. Stephenson; nevertheless, he was 
a human being- in distress and must be succored. The 
doctor readily consented to go, and was led away to 
our wounded soldier. When the latter saw his friend 
approach with the surgeon in tow, he was a little 
startled. A tall, broad-shouldered man, disheveled, 
coat off, sleeves rolled up to the elbows, grimy with 
battle-smoke, and bedaubed with blood stains. "My 
God,'" thought the poor fellow, "am I to be butchered 
in cold blood by that great big butcher?" He soon 
found out, however, that this new friend was not so 
sanguinary as he looked. Although worn out with 
hard work, the surgeon set to work with a will; skill- 
fully and speedily amputated the limb, and, with the 
tenderness of a woman united to the skill of the prac- 
ticed surgeon, soon fixed the poor fellow up. He con- 
tinued to visit this soldier and dress his wound, regu- 
larly, until he was recovered, notwithstanding his own 
regular duties. Years after, this soldier was riding in a 
railway carriage with a certain gentleman from Illinois. 
Learning that his traveling companion was an Illi- 
noisan, the old soldier asked him if he knew Dr. 
Stephenson. "All Illinoisans certainly ought to know 
Dr. Stephenson," exclaimed the enthusiastically grate- 
ful old soldier. It happened that the gentleman was 
an old friend of the doctor. On learning this, the 
veteran told the above story. 

Living in the midst of the comforts which a peaceful 
and prosperous nation provides for even its humblest 
citizens, it is difficult for us to realize the hardships 
and privations of soldiers engaged in active service 
during war time. The picture of the sufferings endured 
b^'' warriors is presented too seldom to the peaceful 



DK. STEPHENSON. ' 2T 

public; but, now and then, we are startled by the vivid 
coloring of some battle picture into a faint idea that 
we do owe something- to the veterans who wore the 
old blue, and, by their- privations, endured uncom- 
plaininoly and often enlivened by jest, have paved the 
way for our comfortable prosperity. 

Major John F. Nolte, of the l-tth, was a bosom friend 
of Dr. Stephenson. He was for some time in command 
of the regiment, and was intimately associated with 
the doctor in work, as well as socially. Their friend- 
ship was so close that either would have sacrificed life 
or limb for the other. 

After the battle of Shiloh, many of the soldiers'' 
friends from the north came to visit the array, and 
see the battle-field. A certain editor came to visit 
Major Nolte at this time, and prolonged his stay 
several marches on to Corinth. One of those little in- 
cidents occurred which are so distressing to the civilian 
but which the soldier learns to take as a mere matter 
of course. It commenced raining, and it rained with 
a will, steadily and without "letting up." They had 
to march all one day through the rain. The baggage 
team stuck in the mud, as baggage teams unfortu- 
nately have a knack of doing, leavins: the soldiers with- 
out tents, provisions, or bedding. As night came on,, 
the editor anxiously observed that there was no sign 
of bedding or tents. 

"I'd like to know how in thunder I'm going to sleep 
to-night, Major," he demanded. 

"Do not worry, my friend," said the major, sooth- 
ingly, "I will provide. Just come around to my fire 
when you are ready to retire." 



28 • A MEMOIR OF 

When Mr. Editor came around, with pleasant visions 
of a comfortable bed, provided by Providence in the 
shape of Major Nolte, how and whence he did not 
know, he saw nothing but two broad, flat fence-rails, 
laid side by side where the flickering fire light fell upon 
them, while a third rail was held in reserve. To his 
inquiring look the Major pointed out the two fence- 
rails, and politely invited him to lie down on this rustic 
<3ontrivance and use the third rail for cover. In the 
morning the Major's friend struck out for the north, 
fully satisfied with his experience of the hardships of 
a soldier's life. 

The 14th took part in the siege of Corinth and vari- 
ous other engagements in that vicinity. They arrived 
at Memphis some time after the capture of that city. 
I quote again from the history of the regiment: 

"We encamped just below the city, on the bank of 
the Mississippi. When we once more got in sight of 
the 'Father of Waters,' rolling down from the free 
north in all its might and grandeur, the thought of 
home was strong, and the river seemed to invite us 
to take passage on its broad bosom, and to say to 
us 'I can now carry you to your happy homes,' and 
the boys gave three rousing cheers for the Mississippi." 

Afterwards the troops were stationed at Bolivar, 
Tenn. While here, a certain young surgeon who had 
been sent out to assist Dr. Stephenson in his charge of 
the 14th, for, although brigade surgeon, he still looked 
specially after his comrades of the Mth, arrived. The 
next morning Dr. Stephenson gave the new assistant 
his hospital book and told him to go into the hospital 
t;ent and see what the men wanted. The young M. D. 
seemed to be utterly at sea as to what was required. 



DH. STEPHENSON. 20 

and instead of feeling the pulses of the sick soldiers 
and askino- their symptoms, he simply stared at the 
first man he came across, Mr. Samuel Walker, with a 
broad grin on his face. Mr. Walker, of course, stared 
back at him, and recognized the book although h& 
knew nothing of the assistant. 

"What are you doing with that book?" he demanded. 
The budding army surgeon opened the book, took out 
his pen, and put the stereotyped inquiry, "What do you 
want?" "What do I want?" repeated Mr. Walker, 
"Yes, what do you want?" "I want my breakfast."" 
The doctor carefully noted this desire in his book and 
passed to the next. 

By this time the other boys had "caught on." One 
communicated his desire for a wife, another, for a dis- 
charge, still another wanted his mother. Some wanted 
to go to Europe, others to China. The majority, how- 
ever, wanted a furlough home. 

With commendable industry, the ambitious M. D. 
labored with the men, accumulating and recording this 
kind of information, from early in the morning until 
four o'clock in the afternoon ! Uncommonly slow pen- 
man that! A delegation of the invalids called on Dr. 
Stephenson that evening, and their spokesman in- 
quired, — "Doctor, what lunatic is carrying the hospital 
book about and interviewing the boys? " The doctor 
laughed heartily, saying, — "Boys, that fellow will know 
a great deal more wlien the war is over than he does 
now." 

I am indebted to Mr. Walker for this anecdote. 

On the fifth of October, as the division commanded 
by Gen. Hurlbut, that of which the 14th was a part, 
was on its way to Corinth to reinforce Gen. Rosecrans^ 



30 A MEMOIR OF 

it had an eno-ao-emeiit with the rebel forces at the Big 
Hatchee river. This was on the day after the principal 
engagement at Corinth, and while Rosecrans was pursu- 
ing the Confederates, and was one of the after-incidents. 
It was a hard-fought battle, in which the Union forces 
gained the victory at a high price. In his report of 
this battle, Brig. Gen. James C. Veatch says: 

"Major Stephenson, Senior Surgeon of the Brigade, 
devofed himself to the relief of the wounded, and his 
skill, energy, and devotion to duty were seen and felt 
by my whole command." 

After this engagement the troops returned to Boli- 
var, and remained there for some time. 

Before the troops left Bolivar, the Illinois State offi- 
cers came down to visit them, Gov. Yates, xiuditor 
Dubois, familiarly known as "Uncle Jesse," and others. 
Of course they must review the troops. Gen. Hurlbut, 
the division commander, mounted Gov. Yates and 
^'Uncle Jesse," and they rode slowly along the line. 
But when they turned to come back by the rear Gen. 
Hurlbut, who was a dashing rider, put his horse to 
its best speed. His staff, of course, followed his ex- 
ample. Judge Dubois, who was a very poor rider, after 
an ineffectual attempt to overtake the others, reined 
in where Dr. Stephenson and Major Nolte were stand- 
ing in line, and exclaimed: 

"Doc, just look at the fools! Hope they will 

break their necks. I didn't come here to have mine 
broken." 

The 14th was in the front of the column and under 
the immediate command of Grant, when he moved 
down the railroad to attack Vicksburg in the rear, 
while Sherman was to attack from Chickasaw Bayou. 



DR. STEPHENSON. * 31 

After this, they guarded the railroad eoininnnieations 
for (irant's army, and, finally, were sent down to take 
part in the siege of Vicksburg. 

During the winters in camp. Dr. Stephenson im- 
proved the time and varied the monoton^^ of camp 
life by giving lectures and demonstrations in anato- 
my. It was easy to obtain subjects, and his hospital 
help received instructions which were doubtless of in- 
estimable value to them. Nearly all of them after- 
wards became practicing physicians. 

Chaplain Rutledge was connected with Dr. Stephen- 
son in the hospital work, helping him care for the 
wounded soldiers, and George Goldsmith was cook. 
The chaplain and Goldsmith gained the reputation of 
being excellent foragers. Chickens had to roost very 
high indeed, if the parson and Goldsmith did not get 
them into the hospital pot, according to Major Nolte. 
The same gentleman assures me that the chaplain be- 
came exceedingly expert in providing for his mess, so 
much so that one evening he came in with one side of 
a sheep, and Dr. Stephonson remarked that the chap- 
lain had gotten so expert that he could slaughter one 
side of a sheep and leave the other side grazing. 

I am indebted, also, to Major Nolte, for the follow- 
ing hospital incident: 

Gen. McPherson had his headquarters at a certain 
farmhouse. The family had agreed to provide meals 
for the General and staff. Goldsmith, on a foraging 
expedition, struck the same house and found a peck 
of corn meal, all they had. He took all the meal and 
jthe sifter, in his gum blanket, and went out in the 
orchard, spread his blanket on the grass under an 
apple tree, and deliberately went to sifting his confis- 



32 " A MEMOIR OF 

cated meal. About this time the lady of the house 
discovered that her meal had all vanished, and at 
once reported the fact to Gen. McPherson, and he 
to his staff. With them, it was find the meal or no 
bread. They all struck out on the search. The Gen- 
eral discovered Goldsmith and .went up to him, and 
the colloquy that ensued was about as follows: 

"Younp; man, you seem well heeled." 

"1 know' it, General." 

"Whose cook are you?" 

''Suroeou Stephenson's." 

"How many in 3'our mess?" 

"Four."- 

"Well, you don't need a whole peck of meal; can't 
you divide?" 

"All rio'ht, General. Doc is the most liberal man in 
the army, and here is half the meal." 

During" the siep;e of Vicksbur^ Dr. Stephenson occu- 
pied the house of Col. Durden for a hospital. Col. 
Durden was a stately old southern gentleman, who 
had been very wealthy before the war, but, after both 
the Confederate and Federal armies had pillaged the 
plantation, his family was left destitute of even the 
necessities of life, a melancholy instance of the sad re- 
sult of war. Dr. Stephenson sympathized deeply with 
the old couple, and while in the neighborhood he saw 
that they were supplied with food, and protected from 
abuse. 

I will here quote a passage from a letter written to 
me b\' Major Nolte: 

"Your father's goodness of heart was not alone con-« 
fined to his friends, but took in all suffering humanity. 
When Vicksburg surrendered, your father ccjuld not 



DK. STEPHENSON. 8^ 

'dispose of his sick and wounded in time to accompanj' 
the regiment on to Jackson. 

"Therefore, when I arrived at Vieksburo- (the major 
had been home on a furlough occasioned by sickness) on 
July 5th, I found your father there, and we started oa 
horseback, on the morning of July 6th, to overtake 
the regiment. Before we started, we took every bottle' 
of whisky we could carry; our troops would need thera 
in the absence of medical stores. The rebel prisoners, 
paroled, had started on July 5th. Exhausted, sick, 
they lined the road from Yicksbura- to Baker's Creek. 
We traveled the same road. Tiie doctor would stop 
at every group of rebels, and hand out a bottle of 
whisky; and so it went. When he arrived at Baker's 
Creek, where our roads diverged, the sick, exhausted,^ 
rebels had all our whisky, and many a 'God bless you' 
did the doctor receive from the rebels. 

''We rode all that day and night. About daylight,, 
we met a stream of wagous going to Yicksburg for 
supplies. The men told us that our division had struck 
and charged the rebel works at Jackson, the evening 
before, and that our brigade had led the charge and 
failed, and that half of the brigade lay dead and 
wounded under the rebel works. We felt so shocked 
we could ride no further, dismounted and sat down 
by a tree. Tears may indicate weakness, but do you 
know the bravest are the tenderest? I never knew a 
more tender-hearted or braver man than B. F. Stephen- 
son. When we arrived at Jackson, the next day, we' 
found it was the first brigade that had suffered, not 
ours, but the slaughter was none the less sad." 

The same writer says, "No surgeon could, in the 
14th, fill the place of' 'Old Butch' (Dr. Stephenson). 
-3 



34 A MEMOIR OF 

This, with the regiment, was a term of respect and 
endearment. Often have I heard the inquiry, ' Where 
is Old Butch ? ' 'Is Old Butch present ? ' when the rej>;i- 
ment was preparin.g for battle. If your father was 
with us, we went into battle with lighter hearts, be- 
cause his care and skill would fix us up all right again, 
if wounded. * ^ * Whether on the skirmish line, or 
in the stubborn conflict in line of battle, where shot 
and shell plowed their deepest furrows there was 
glorious 'Old Butch,' and there he staid until forced 
to the amputating tent." 

After Dr. Stephenson overtook the troops at Jackson, 
he, in company with Major Nolte, his bosom friend, 
rode out for the purpose of inspecting the Union picket 
line and the rebel works.. The doctor left his assis- 
tant orders not to attempt any amputations until he 
returned. The assistant surgeon disreo:arded his in- 
structions, however, and, although there was really 
nothing to warrant an amputation, took off a man's 
leg while his senior was absent. When Dr. Stephenson 
returned, and heard of the occurrence, he was very 
much enraged. He was no experimenter upon living 
subjects, and allowed none of his subordinates to ex- 
periment. 

The next day after the surrender of Vicksburg, the 
troops were ordered to Jackson. After the evacuation 
of this city, they again returned to Vicksburg. After 
the troops were recruited somewhat, they were ordered 
to Natchez. They returned to Vicksburg in November 
and were stationed at Camp Cowan and Camp Hebron, 
on Black river, ten miles in the rear of Vicksburg. 

Dr. Stephenson, finding that the troops were to re- 
main here for some time, and being anxious to see his 



DR. STEPHENSON. 35 

family, wrote to his wife, asking her to come to Vicks- 
burg. A pretty incident is connected with the visit of 
the doctor's family, showing to what extent he had 
won the affection of the soldiers with whom he was 
intimately associated. 

Dr. Stephenson had engaged rooms for his family at 
a house just outside the Union picket lines, and about 
a mile from camp. But his family was delayed, and 
be got word that his wife and children would not ar- 
rive until some two or three weeks later than he at 
first supposed. In the meantime, a certain officer, a 
friend of Dr. Stephenson, had returned from the North, 
bringing with him a bride. The young officer was in a 
quandary; he had no place to which he could take his 
wife. Always at the service of his friends. Dr. Stephen- 
son, immediately on hearing of the officer's dilemma, 
proffered the rooms he had hired for his family, with the 
express understanding, however, that they were to im- 
mediately vacate on the arrival of Mrs. Stephenson. 
Mrs. Stephenson at length arrived on short notice to 
her husband. The doctor notified the friend whom he 
had accommodated, but the gentleman refused to give 
up the apartments, intimating that he had possession 
and intended to keep it. 

Dr. Stephenson was very much perplexed. What was 
he to do? His family was coming, and there was no 
place prepared for them. He confided his troubles to 
Major Nolte. The major kindl^^ told him not to worry, 
but to take the ambulance and bring his family to 
camp, and meanwhile he (the major) would see that 
a lodging was provided. The major informed the boys 
of the 14th of their surgeon's predicament, and started 
them immediately to building a chimney to a large 
tent. He also requested each of them to contribute 



36 A MEMOIR OF 

what he could spare from his small store of comforts 
towards furnishing the tent. Some of the soldiers had 
hoarded bits of carpet and various odds and ends of 
furniture, towards increasino; the scanty comforts of 
their winter camp. These they cheerfully brought for 
the service of their surg:eon's family. 

When the doctor arrived with his family, coming- in 
from the drizzling rain, a pleasant sight met their 
eyes. A cheerful fire blazed on the hearth, and com- 
fortable arm-chairs standing near invited them to rest. 
Everything was cosy and comfortable. Of course the 
doctor took in the situation at a glance, and knew that 
the boys of the old 14th had purchased the comfort 
of his family at the price of their own. 

About the first of February, the troops were ordered 
out on the famous Meridian raid. On this raid, an in- 
cident occurred which exhibits Dr. Stephenson's loyalty 
to his friends. At Enterprise, Major Nolte was at- 
tacked by sciatic rheumatism, a disease to which he 
had become subject. So violent was the attack that 
he could not be moved. As the troops were pushing 
on as rapidly as possible, skirmishing as they marched, 
it was proposed that they should leave the major to 
the "tender care of the rebels." Dr. Stephenson was 
very much excited on hearing this proposal. "If you 
leave the major," he exclaimed, "you leave me, too, 
for I will never leave him while there is breath in his 
body!" He was the kind of man who would die for 
his friend and think it nothing but his duty. For- 
tunately for both, the major had so far recovered, by 
the time they were ready to resume the march, that he 
could sit on a horse, with one on each side to hold 
him. 



DR. STEPHENSON. 37 

After the Meridian raid, the troops returned to Vicks- 
burg-; from thence, they went to Cairo, 111. Then they 
took some cattle designed for Sherman's army up the 
Tennessee. They landed at Clifton, Tenn. They drove 
the cattle down to Athens, Ala. ; from thence across 
to Huntsville. Here a part of the new veterans drove 
them on farther, then returned to meet the rest at 
Huntsville. 

Dr. Stephenson's term expired on the 2oth of May, 
1864. He then returned home, and was mustered out, 
June 24, 1864. 



38 A MEMOIR OF 



PART III. 



"Gi'iru-visag'd War hath smoothed his wrinkled front." 

"Whether we fight or whether we fall 

By saber stroke or rifle ball, 

The hearts of the free will remember us yet, 

And our country, our country will never forget." 

After leaving the army, Dr. Stephenson located at 
Springfield, 111., and commenced the practice of medi- 
cine. The following reminiscence illustrates his friend- 
liness for the soldiers, especially those with whom he 
had had any intercourse in war times. 

About a year after Dr. Stephenson had left the array, 
Mr. Samuel Walker, a soldier of the 14th, who had 
been imprisoned in Andersonville, was ordered to 
Springfield to be mustered out. As Dr. Stephenson 
w'as driving along the street, he saw Mr. Walker. 
Recognizing him, he immediately drew rein and hailed 
him: 

•'Well, Sam, you are just out of Andersonville, and 
half dead, too. What's the matter with you anyhow?" 

Looking at his old 'Surgeon, with a ghost of a smile, 
the veteran- replied : "You ought to know, Doc." 

The doctor immediately named his disease, and bade 
him get in the buggy with him. He drove on to a drug 
store, ex3,mined Mr. Walker, and prepared half a gal- 
lon of medicine, giving him directions for taking it. 
Mr. Walker had been so long accustomed to taking 



DR. STEPHENSON. 39" 

medicine from the reg'imental surgeon free of charge, 
that he picked up the medicine and turned to leave, 
without thinking it was to be paid for. Looking at 
him with a quizzical smile, the doctor hesitatingly ob- 
served: "Sam, the government does not furnish that 
medicine, but I will let you have it at half price " 

Most of the anecdotes I have used were contributed 
by men of the old 14th. I have considered it appro- 
priate that the old soldiers should express their affec- 
tion for my father, and their admiration for his 
character. 

After he left the army and located at Springfield, 
Dr. Stephenson was made a member of the examining 
board of surgeons at Camp Butler, near Springfield. 
After Surgeon A. B. Campbell was mustered out of 
service, and left for Philadelphia, by his (Campbell's) 
request, Dr. Stephenson took charge of the hospital 
at Camp Butler, and acted from December 12, 1865, 
to January 31, 1866, when Dr. Buck received a con- 
tract. Shortly afterwards. Dr. Stephenson succeeded 
Dr. Buck. He received the contract giving him charge 
of the hospital about February 26, 1866. The pay 
at this time was eighty dollars per mouth, but May 
14, 1866, he received another contract, allowing him 
one hundred dollars per mouth. He remained in charge 
of this hospital until the soldiers were all mustered 
out, and the stores sold. 

Dr. Stephenson was a physician of large practice 
and considerable reputation. He had also a very kind 
heart, and nuuibered among his patients many who he 
knew could never pa3^ him a cent. Suffering hunmnity, 
especially' women and children, of any class, touched 
his heart deepl3^ How profoundly, then, did it move 



40 A MEMOIR OF 

him to see the soldier's widow and orphans in want, 
and such cases were constantly forced on his notice. 
^^Greater love hath no man than this, that he should 
lay down his life for his friend." The soldier had done 
this for his country, and that country had promised 
to care for his helpless family. But the country, 
though well meaning, was slow, and meantime the 
orphans were starving. The returned soldier himself 
found it hard to find employment on reentering civil 
life. The place he had vacated at his country's call 
was filled hj another, and he must begin his tussle 
with the world again at a disadvantage; perhaps 
crippled, an arm or a leg gone; or, if>he was so for- 
tunate as to retain all his limbs, some disease, brought 
on by exposure and hardships incident to war, had 
fastened its fell grip on him. If no chronic malady 
had 3'et made its appearance, most probably the 
^erms were lurking somewhere in his system. He w'as 
:aged and enfeebled by his army experiences. So char- 
acteristic is selfishness of human nature that the ex- 
soldier's more fortunate neighbors, who had been 
prospering in business while he was fighting the enemy, 
and, perhaps, running in debt to keep his family on 
his slender pay, had, too often, no helping liand to 
extend to him, but were, rather, jealous of the moderate 
praise and notice he received from the public. 

Dr. Stephenson was a close observer of all this, and 
he soon lifted up his voice in the soldier's behalf. His 
professions of friendship for the soldier were accom- 
panied by practical ministrations, to which many a 
befriended widow or orphan, or distressed soldier, can 
testify, if yet living. He gave employment to soldiers, 
soldiers' widows and orphans, whenever he could, and 
induced others to employ them. He attended them in 



DR. STEPHENSON. 41 

illuess, free of charge, if they were unable to pay. The 
magic phrase, soldier's widow or orphan, was an open 
sesame to his great heart and ever generous purse. 

The soldier felt the injustice and ingratitude exhibited 
by some, not all, whose prosperity had been purchased 
b\^ his self sacrifice, and already various local unions 
had been formed. The idea that union of some kind 
was necessary was developing in the ex-military mind, 
but, as yet, no attempt had been made to make this 
union National. 

The neglect of the soldier and the soldier's widow 
and orphans aroused Dr. Stephenson's extreme indig- 
nation. The more he brooded over it the more he be- 
came convinced that something must be done. At 
length, in January, 1866, he conceived the idea of a 
National Soldiers' Mutual Benefit Society, whose motto 
should be Loyalty, Fraternity, and Charity, and whose 
glorious name should be the Grand Army of the Re- 
public. It should be a secret society, with grips and 
pass-words, non-partisan, and loyal. He consulted 
with his friends about his new idea; some encouraged 
it, but the majority thought it visionary and imprac- 
ticable. The doctor was a good fellow, they thought, 
but infatuated with his enthusiasms. He was accus- 
tomed to confer frequently on the subject of his favorite 
hobby, or fad, it would be called now, with Colonel 
Grass, a gentleman occupying an office on the same 
floor as his own. Colonel Grass listened sympatheti- 
cally, but thought his friend overly sanguine, and 
something of a hobby-rider. 

One day he came into Colonel Grass' oflice, sat down, 
and fully and minutely unfolded to him his plan of or- 
ganization, the rules, regulations, ritual, and all. Then 



42 A MEMOIR OF 

he requested Colonel Grass to write it out, or, as he 
expressed it, "lick it into shape," for him. This the 
colonel refused to do, alleg;ing his inability to per- 
form the task. The doctor repeated his request several 
times, but the colonel always refused. At length Dr. 
Stephenson scolded the colonel, in his good natured 
way, for his "laziness," and announced his intention 
of writing out the work himself. 

A letter from Col. Grass is before me, and I quote 
from it as I write: 

"One Sunday morning — as I now recollect, in the 
early part of February, 1 806— your father came into 
my office and threw a large bundle of manuscript on 
my table, saying, as he did so, 'read that,,' It was the 
original manuscript of the ritual, rules and regula- 
tions, for the organization of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, all in your father's own handwriting, includ- 
ing erasures, interlineations, and punctuation. There 
was not a line, word or letter in it, written by any 
other person. We devoted most of that day, and part 
of the next day, to looking over and revising the 
manuscript. I suggested a few verbal changes, but the 
general phraseology, and the whole subject-matter, was 
left vvholly unchanged. And whatever others may have 
suggested, said, or done, I do know that the whole 
was printed and used, at first, in the organization of 
Posts of the G. A. E., almost literally as submitted to 
me by your father." 

After he had written out the work. Dr. Stephenson 
submitted it to Gov. Oglesby, who approved the work, 
but thought the plan of organization would not suc- 
ceed. 



DR. STEPHENSON. 43 

Anxious to commence organizing, Dr. Stephenson 
procured the assistance of certain of his friends, namely, 
Capt. Howe, of Ohio, Col. Flood, of Wisconsin, Capt. 
J. N. Hill, and Col. Daniel Grass, of Illinois, then on 
duty at Springfield. 

Dr. J. W. Routh and Capt. M. F. Kanan, of Decatur, 
Illinois, both intimate friends of Dr. Stephenson, ur- 
gently requested Dr. Stephenson to visit Decatur with 
a view to organizing. He did so early in the spring 
of 1866, and placed his manuscript plans in the hands 
of a committee composed of Dr. J. W. Routh, Capt. J. 
T. Bishop, Capt. M. F. Kanan, Maj. George R. Steele, 
and Capt. Geo. H. Dunning. These gentlemen, after ex- 
amining the plans, approved them. I. N. Coltrin and 
Joseph Prior, printers, after taking the oaths and obli- 
gations of the order, were entrusted with printing the 
first copies of the constitution, ritual, rules, etc. 

On the sixth day of April, 1866, the anniversary of 
the battle of Shiloh, in which battle Dr. Stephenson 
and nearl3'' all the charter members of this Post had 
taken an active part, B. F. Stephenson established the 
first encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, 
Post No. 1, of Decatur, District of Macon, Department 
of Illinois. The charter members of this Post were 
Capt. M. F. Kanan, Major Geo. R. Steele, George H. 
Dunning, Col. Isaac C. Pugh, Lieut. Col. John H. Nale, 
J. T. Bishop, C. Riebsame, Dr. J. W. Routh, B. F. Sib- 
ley, I. N. Coltrin, Joseph Prior, and A. Toland. 

At this first meeting the following ofiicers were elected: 
Brig. Gen. I. C. Pugh, Commandant of District; Lieut. 
Col. J. H. Nale, District Quartermaster: Dr. J. W. 
Routh, District Adjutant. These were the district offi- 
cers; those of the Post were: M. F. Kanan, P. C; G. 



44 A MEMOIR OF 

R. Steele, P. A.; G. H. Dunning;, P. Q. M.; Chris Rieb- 
same, 0. D.; J. T. Bishop, 0. G.; J. W. Routh, P. Sur- 
o;eon. 

The next Post organized was at Springfield, Dr. Ste- 
phenson's home. This was named Stephenson Post 
No, 2. The number of this Post has been changed 
since, but it still retains the right to the number two. 
The charter members of this Post were Gen. T. S. 
Mather, Commander; Major E. S. Johnson, Adj.; Capt. 
N. B. Ames, Q. M.; Major B. F. Stephenson, Col. Geo. 
T. Allan, Gen. John Cook, Major James Hamilton, Col. 
James H. Matheny, Col. J. M. Snyder, Gen. John Mc- 
Connell, Lieut. L. E. Rosette, and Col. Edward Prince. 
A charter was issued to this Post July 21, 1866. 

Dr. Stephenson, full of energetic enthusiasm over his 
own idea, now pushed on the organization rapidly. 
He hired men and sent them out, at his own expense, 
to organize Posts in his own and other States. At 
length he succeeded in organizing forty Posts. He then 
called a convention of all soldiers in good standing, 
to meet him at Springfield, 111., on the 12th day of 
July, 1866. At this convention was organized the 
Department of Illinois, with Major General John M. 
Palmer as Department Commander. This was a per- 
manent, not a provisional, organization. 

Dr. B. F. Stephenson, the founder, was honored by 
being appointed Provisional Commander-in-Chief. 

The Doctor's agents were active, and Indiana was 
soon provisionally organized. Next came Ohio. Dr. 
Stephenson sent Col. Proudfit to Wisconsin. This gen- 
tlemati called a convention of the order of soldiers 
which existed in that State, and of which he, himself, 
was a member, and thev united with the G. A. R. 



DR. STEPHENSON. 45 

With indefatigable zeal, Dr. Stepheuson, as Pro- 
visional Commander-in-Chief of the G. A. R., continued 
to push its interests. He still had men at work or- 
ganizing in the different States ; he published and sent 
out the necessary pamphlets and papers, circulars, etc., 
to the different departments, at his own expense. 
Although the first copie^ of the constitution, bj-laws, 
etc., were printed at Decatur, 111., Capt. Geo. R.Webber, 
of Springfield, 111., was, I believe, the first printer 
with whom a contract was made for 'printing the neces- 
sar3^ papers and pamphlets of the G. A. R. 

The idea of the G. A. R. seemed to take right hold 
of the hearts of the soldiers. Posts sprang up rapidly. 
The doctor, however, did not slacken his efforts be- 
cause he found the soldiers ready to take hold. When 
rivals aspired to the office of Commander of the same 
State department, he exerted himself to smooth mat- 
ters, to conciliate both, or all, parties. He encour- 
aged those exerting themselves to firmly establish the 
new order, and prophesied great things of it. 

The first National Convention of the G. A. R. met at 
Indianapolis, November 20, 18(36. It was called by 
Dr. Stephenson, the Provisional Commander-in-Chief. 
At this convention, the following officers served : Presi- 
dent — John M. Palmer, Illinois. Vice-Presidents — 
Thomas C. Fletcher, Missouri; R. S. Foster, Indiana; 
J. B. McKean, New York; John C. Kelley, Pennsylva- 
nia; J. K. Proudfit, Wisconsin; William O. Ryan, Iowa; 
Robert Catterson, Arkansas; B. F, Stephenson, Illi- 
nois; Thomas B. Farleigh, Kentucky; August Willich, 
Ohio. Secretary — L. E. Dudley, District of Columbia. 
Assistant Secretaries— Daniel Macauley, Indiana; Clay- 
ton McMichael, Pennsylvania; F. G. Ledergerber, Mis- 



46 A MEMOIR OF 

souri; Charles G. Mayers, Wiscousin; T, M. Thompson, 
Illinois. Chaplain — J. H. Lozier, Indiana. 

The following National officers were elected by this 
convention: Commander-in-Chief — S. A. Hurlbut, of 
Illinois. Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief — J. B. Mc- 
Kean, of New York. Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief — 
E. S. Foster, Indiana. Adjutant General — B. F. Ste- 
phenson, Illinois. Quartermaster General — August 
Willich, Ohio. Surgeon General— D. C. McNeil, Iowa. 
Chaplain— William A. Pile, Missouri. Council of Admin- 
istration — J. K. Proudfit, Wisconsin; Wm. Vanderveve, 
Iowa; T. 0. Osborne, Illinois; T. C. Fletcher, Missouri; 
T. T. Taylor, Ohio; H. K. Milward, Kentucky; F. J. 
Bramhall, New York; Nathan Kimball, Indiana; Clay- 
ton McMichael, Pennsylvania. 

The convention considered the rules, regulations, etc., 
)and made some additions and alterations. 

Surgeon H. W. Davis offered the following resolution: 

Whereas, We, the members of the Grand Army of the Re- 
public, recognize in Major B. F. Stephenson, of Sprinofielcl, 111., 
the head and front of the organization; be it, therefore. 

Resolved, That for the energy, loyalty, and perseverence mani- 
fested in organizing the Grand Army of the Republic, he is 
entitled to the gratitude of all loyal men, and that we, as sol- 
diers, tender him our thanks, and pledge him our friendships 
at all times, and under all circumstances. 

Adopted. 

"Comrade Stephenson offered the following resolu- 
tion, which was adopted: 

Resolved, That 'The Great Republic' be, and is hereby adopted 
as the national organ of the Grand Army of the Republic." 

"The Great Republic," a paper edited in Washington, 
D. C, by L. Edwin Dudley, was for some time the or- 
gan of the G. A. R. 



DR. STEPHENSON. 47 

The duties of Adjutant General of the G. A. R. were 
so onerous in connection with Dr. Stephenson's prac- 
tice, at this time, when the order was spreading so 
rapidly, and he was constantly receiving letters from 
all parts of the Union, that he was obliged to hire a 
clerk. The following extract from a letter written bj- 
Dr. Stephenson will demonstrate the fact that his office 
was no sinecure, and that the work of organization 
was not molding and directing itself, like the survival 
of the fittest, as some seem to think. 

"You see, my dear Col., I could not do less. It 
would have been a repudiation of my own acts," (his 
Aid, it seems, had done something which was not just 
in regular order during the preliminary organization, 
and Dr. Stephenson, as Provisional Commander-in- 
Chief was bound to recognize the work of his Aids,) 
"and it is but an act of justice to Gen. C. It may be 
he is not a good man, etc., but I had no right to do 
him an injury. And you will see further that this is 
not going -behind the present organization, but bring- 
ing it up to that point. I did this to harmonize things, 
and General C. expressed himself as entirely satisfied, 
and speaks of General M. as warmly, almost, as jou 
do. I will send you, in a few days, copies of new rit- 
ual, charter, commissions, constitution, etc." 

There were jealousies to be allayed, and irregulari- 
ties of hurried organization to be adjusted, and many 
other cares incident to the development of a new order. 
Nothing must interfere with the harmony; diplomat- 
ism was needed until the organization should be strong- 
enough to stand alone; to demonstrate that its idea 
of what was best for the soldier was the correct one. 
To this task, Dr. Stephenson appears to have brought 
very unusual patience, zeal, and ability. 



48 A MEMOIR OF 

To one dissatisfied with tbe appointment of a cer- 
tain provisional commander, he writes: 

" But, my dear comrade and fellovA'-soldier, this need 
not interfere with you at all. When ten Posts are or- 
ganized, Gen is compelled to call a convention 

and organize permanently. If he does not, make re- 
port to these Headquarters, and he will be ordered 
to do so. But he writes me that he wants to effect a 
permanent organization by Jan. 1st. Your remedy 
will be to attend the convention and elect your own 
man. * * * i wjn present your name to the Com- 
mander-in-Chief for one of his Aids, and shall insist on 
the appointment being made and continued through- 
out the year." 

I shall now mention some of the pioneers of the 
G. A. R., who were specially zealous and active in 
helping Dr. Stephenson carry out his plans of organi- 
zation : 

Col. Benj. F. Hawkes, first P. C, Post of North 
Fairfield, District of Huron, Department of Ohio, was 
a pioneer of the G. A. R., active in organizing Posts 
in Ohio. 

Maj. Gen. Louis Wagner, of Philadelphia, was the 
Provisional Commander of the Department of Penn- 
sylvania, appointed by Coimmander-in Chief Hurlbut. 

October 6, 1866, about six weeks before the Indi- 
anapolis convention, Dr. Stephenson appointed Col. 
Frank J. Bramhall, of New York city, Aid-de-Camp 
for the Department of Ngjirr.York. He was active in 
the work of organizing. 

Col. A. L. Pearson, Pittsburg, Pa., was a pioneer 
in G. A. R. work. 



DU. STEPHENSON. 49 

Gen. J. B. McKean, of Saratoga Springs, N. Y., was 
appointed by Gen. Hurlbut Commander of Provis- 
ional Department of ]New York. 

Capt. John A. Lightfoot, Gen. Jules C. Webber and 
Col. Daniel Grass were Adjutants to Dr. Stephenson 
during the preliminary organization. The two latter 
gentlemen were also Adjutants-General of the Depart- 
ment of Illinois during the first few months of the 
organization, Col. Grass succeeding Gen. Webber. 
Col. Grass was specially active in organizing Posts in 
southern Illinois. 

Col. Thomas B. Farleigh, of Louisville, Ivy., Tem- 
porary Commander Provisional Department of Ken- 
tucky; Maj. Gen. John Corcoran, of New York city; 
Gen. E. W. Whitaker, Hartford^ Conn.; Capt. Thomas 
P. Parker, Camden, N. J.; Col. Frank Daggett, Min- 
nesota; T. J. Madison, Topeka, Kau.; Maj. O. M. 
Wilson, Indiana; Gen, Benjamin F. Potts, Ohio; Col. 
Thomas T. Taylor, Georgetown, Ohio; Brig. Gen. A. 
Rushinford, Wilmington, N C; F. M. Young, Atlanta, 
111.; Andrew Cunningham, Kanawha, W. Ya.; Col. 
William W. Woodcock, Nashville, Tenn.; O. L. Dud- 
ley, Minnesota; Capt. Robert Gra^', Martinsburg, 
W. Ya.; Col. R. S. Northcott, Clarksville, W. Ya.; 
N. N. Tyne, Iowa; Coi. G. S. Jennings, Rochester^ 
N. Y., were pioneers in G. A. R. work. 

Dr. Stephenson writes: "The order is growing with 
superhuman strides in the East, and they threaten to 
beat us. We must not let them." 

Again: "We are glad to see the work going ahead. 
It is bound to be the great power, and those who 
take the lead will not be^ forgotten." 

-4 



50 A MEMOIll OF 

•''You must not slacken your energy. The order is 
destined to be the power in the land, and the stay- 
at-home politicians are beginning to tremble in their 
boots, and are more willing to feed and clothe the 
poor widows and orphans of our noble dead soldiers. 
You must be thoroughly instructed, and go to work 
with redoubled energy. The pioneers in this order 
will not be forgotten. ' 

The letter from which this extract was taken is 
dated December 18th, 1866. 

From a letter dated December 22, 1866, written just 
one month from the Indianapolis convention, I clip 
the following: "I have run the Grand Army (being the 
originator and founder of it) at my own individual 
expense, never havinoj received a farthing, and I am 
about run out. If 3^ou can raise me a little for the 
books and charters, I would be glad." 

"Accept thanks for your promptness, and hope you 
will push on the good work in Ohio." 

"It gratifies me to see you people of the South tak- 
ing such an interest in the order." From a letter to 
A. Cunningham, West Virginia. 

From a letter to Col. R. S. Northcott, West Vir- 
ginia: "The Commander-in-Chief will feel under es- 
pecial obligations if you will use your efforts to push 
the order in your state." 

"I have to start the entire order out of my own 
means, and have to work for it, at that." 

I find a copy of a letter written by Adjutant General 
Stephenson to General Hurlbut, dated December 23, 
1866, alluding to a proposal to make an assessment 
of one cent per member, and about the same time a 
contract was entered into with the company which was 



DR. STEPHENSON. 51 

to manufacture the G. A. R. bad^'es, by which the G. 
A. R. reserved to itself a certain per cent, of the sales, 
for the purpose of running headquarters. Neither of 
these enterprises, however, was successful. 

In a short account of the organization, Dr. Stephen- 
son says: 

"The idea originated with me, in the month of Janu- 
ary, 1866, and I consulted a number of my former 
comrades and friends as to the feasibility of organizing 
the soldiers into a mutual benefit society. This idea was 
suggested to me by the number of soldiers' widows 
and orphans then in want in our country. I was dis- 
couraged by almost all. The plan was pronounced al- 
together wild and impracticable." 

"Up to this time (the organization of the Depart- 
ment of Illinois, July 12, 1866,) not a single man of 
distinction in this or any other State had dared to con- 
nect his name with the order, and even then many of 
them did it with trepidation." 

"No man disputed my claim to its origin while its 
success was problematical. Then it was my order." 

From another article from his pen I quote the fol- 
lowing: 

" We claim to stand aloof from all party politics 
other than that which pertains to the perpetuity of 
this Union and the interest and well-being of the 
soldier." 

Alluding to the fair promises made to the soldier at 
the commencement of the war, he says: 

"It is well known also how these promises have been 
kept, and while there are many honorable exceptions, 
while many persons have performed all, and more than 
all, they promised, yet the great majority have appar- 



52 A MEMOIR OF 

ently forgotten and ignored the soldier entirely, and 
instead of finding the family of the poor soldier, who 
was induced to leave his wife and little ones by the 
fair promises of his rich neighbors and render up his 
life as a sacrifice on the altar of his country, well 
cared for, well clothed, fed, and educated, j^ou too 
often find the poor wife washing from house to house 
for bread for her babes to eat, and the poor children 
half starved and half naked. And instead of the soldier 
finding the place open for him that he left, he can 
scarcely get employment at all; can't even get employ- 
ment as a day-laborer, provided the people can get 
anybody else cheaper." 

"The offices, promised to the soldiers, have been few 
and far between. In the appointments from the gen- 
eral government there' are not to exceed half a dozen 
in the State; not one until since the organization of the 
Grand Army of the Republic. The citizens are gen- 
erally very careful about allowing a soldier to run for 
ofiice, unless it is some party that is greatly in the 
minority." 

"But, as before stated, whatever views we may have 
as individuals, we, as an order, have nothing to do 
with politics. We are free, untrammeled; free to take 
whatever side appears to be for the interest of the 
soldier." 

From the above quotations it may be readily judged 
what a benefit the Grand Army has been to the sol- 
diers of this country. At the present day, a man who 
has never seen a battle-field stands a poor chance for 
election to oflSce, if his rival is a battle-scarred soldier 
hero, and if a limb has been lost in the service, or an 
eye injured, these are credentials amply sufficient to 
win respect and veneration from patriotic Americans. 



DR. STEPHENSON. 53 

Commauder-in-Cliief Hurlbiit ordered the Second An- 
nual Convention of the G. A. R. to convene on the 
15th of January, 1868, in Philadelphia. At this con- 
vention the following- report was submitted by Adju- 
tant General Stephenson: 

Headquarters Grand Army of the Republic, 
Adjutant Generat/s Office, 

Springfield, III., Jan, 10, 1868. 

To the Comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic, 
tbrouffb their representatives in National Convention 
assembled, greet in f^: 

The Adjutant-General, in presenting this the first 
official report of the rise and progress of the glorious 
order now represented in National convention, ap- 
proaches the subject with extreme diffidence, feeling 
himself, as he does, unable to do the subject the jus- 
tice it deserves. 

Early in the spring of 1866, a few patriots, deeply 
feeling the importance of organizing a grand associa- 
tion of the gallant Union soldiers and sailors of the 
late terrible rebellion, for the purpose of fostering 
fraternal relations, and keeping alive the zeal of pa- 
triotism and devotion to our country-, and above all 
for the purpose of mutual support and assistance in 
clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and furnishing 
employment to destitute, sick and wounded comrades, 
and caring for the widows and orphans of our gallant 
dead, formed their plans, and publicly calling on all 
interested, on the 12th day of July, 1866, met in con- 
vention in the Representatives' Hall in the State cap- 
itol at Springfield, 111., and then and there formed the 
nucleus of the grand organization here represented in 
convention, and which, from that humble origin now 



54 A MEMOIR OF 

extends an influence of great power throughout nearly 
every State and Territory in our country. 

Your present Adjutant-General was honored by the ap- 
pointment as Provisional Commander-in-Chief. With but 
crude materials at his command (mere local influence, 
and but little pecuniary means) aided by a few noble 
workers, he succeeded in a few months in establishing 
Provisional Departments in several States and Terri- 
tories and placing them in good working order. The 
Boys in Blue saw^ the importance of the organization, 
and as they flew to arms when Sumter fell, so did they 
soon fill up our ranks. But the material was crude, 
our ranks but as raw recruits, and the importance of 
a more thorough organization was keenly felt. So the 
first National convention was called to convene in the 
city of Indianapolis, Ind., on the 20th day of Novem- 
ber, 1866, and then and there the Grand Army of the 
Eepublic received its first official recognition. The 
officers for the current year were elected, a council of 
administration appointed, a constitution and regula- 
tions adopted, and the noble ship with its precious 
freia-ht of charity and fraternal love, with the stars 
and stripes nailed to the mast, was launched upon the 
great sea of human events, and right nobly has the 
gallant bark done duty since that time; though she 
has passed through many bitter engagements with her 
ancient enemies, the traitor ship and crew, and even 
been assailed by those who should have been her 
friends, her flag is still there! 

From information derived from numerous letters re- 
ceived daily at my office from every part of our land, 
I am highly gratified in stating my belief that our 
organization is rapidly gaining in strength and im- 



DR. STEPHENSON. OO 

portance, and through its instrumentality thousands 
of starving widows and orphans have been fed and 
clothed, while other thousands of our poor, helpless, 
crippled comrades have been placed in positions where 
they could earn their own bread, Avho, but for our in- 
strumentality, would be left to seek their support from 
the cold hand of charity, and the Union soldier dis- 
dains to beff. I would also state that all the docu- 
ments, files of correspondence, books, etc., remaining 
in my oflEice, will be held subject to the requisition of 
mj" successor. 

«■ **** *** 

In conclusion, I would offer my hearty congratula- 
tions for the unprecedented success of our organiza- 
tion, so dear to the heart of every patriot soldier, and 
earnestly trust that the deliberations of this body may 
prove harmonious, and such action be matured as will 
better develop the power and influence of our order 
for good throughout our land. 

Fraternally, 

B. F. Stephenson, 
Adft Gen'l G. A. E., [J. S. 
Adjutant Stephenson reported fifteen States perma- 
nently organized, and provisional organizations 
"throughout nearly every State and Territory in our 
country." This he had accomplished "with but crude 
materials at his command (mere local influence, and 
but little pecuniary means)," for even after the Indian- 
apolis convention, during his one year and two months 
term of office as Adjutant- General, he had the respon- 
sibility, labor, direction, and almost the sole expense 
of the organization to support. In this time "thousands 
of starving widows and orphans had been fed and 



56 A MEMOIR OF 

clothed, while other thousands of our poor, helpless' 
crippled comrades had been placed in positions where 
they could earn their own bread, who, but for our in- 
strumentality, would be left to seek their support from 
the cold hand of charity." Truly a o-reat work. 

No doubt the fact that Dr. Stephenson's work was 
soon forojotten and that the Grand Army early be^an 
to doubt who was its orig-inator, is due, partially to 
the extreme modesty of this report, and partially to 
the incompleteness of the records turned over to Gen. 
N. P. Chipman, the successor to Dr. Stephenson. Gen. 
Chipman complained of the incompleteness of this rec- 
ord in his report at the close of his term of office. 
Just why so few and such incomplete records were 
turned over by Dr. Stephenson to his successor, I am 
unable to say. Great quantities of my father's papers 
relative to the G. A. 11. were burned by my mother 
after my father's death. She destroyed them because 
she was ignorant of their value. I have been greatly 
embarrassed in my present undertaking owing to the 
scarcity of material from which to collect data and for 
that reason this memoir is not nearly so complete as 
I should like it to be. Among the few papers pertain- 
ing to the G. A. R. left, is a letter-book containing 
copies of letters sent from Headquarters during the 
months of October, November, December, 1866, and 
January, 1867, corresponding, I presume, to the letter- 
book mentioned by Gen. Chipman in his report as 
turned over to him by his predecessor, and as contain- 
ing copies of letters received at Headquarters during 
those months. Those of the letters which were written 
after the Indianapolis convention are all in my father's 
own handwriting. From this latter fact I draw th<^ 
conclusion, that they were written and copied by Dr. 



DR. STEPHENSON. Ot 

Stephenson before he hired a clerk, and under stress 
of the prodigious amount of work he was trjino,- to 
accomplish, viz., to attend to his practice, and, at the 
same time, organize a vast order. I imagine that un- 
der this stress he got behind w-ith his correspondence ; 
possibly some letters were misplaced, and he failed to 
cop3- them in their proper places ; thus his records be- 
came incomplete, and were finally neglected as far as 
the letter-books were concerned. The General also com- 
plained that the register of departments was incom- 
plete, and that no files of letters were transmitted to 
him. This is lamentable^ but the General should have 
known that Dr. Stephenson had odds to contend 
against with which no succeeding Adjutant has ever 
. been confronted. He should have kept a perfect record, 
but there were extenuating circumstances. It is much 
to be regretted that Dr. Stephenson was not more 
methodical, but it would seem that his brethren of the 
G. A. R. ought not to be captious in their criticisms 
but should view his faults with some indulgence. Gen. 
Chipman also mentions the fact that the manuscript 
of Adjutant Stephenson's report was not turned over 
to him, but that he was obliged to copy it from the 
files of the "Ohio Republic." It does not appear that 
Adjutant Stephenson was very anxious to blow his 
own trumpet, or to secure his own aggrandizement. 

At the second annual convention the financial ex- 
hibit was as follows: Expenditures during the 3^ear, 
for printing, office rent, clerk hire, postage, etc., 
f 1637.56. Receipts from the several Departments, 
$352. Deficit due Dr. Stephenson, |1285.56. Comrade 
J. T. Owens, of Philadelphia, at this time advanced to 
Dr. Stephenson, on behalf of the order, foOO. It ap- 
pears that besides the expenditures set down there were 



58 A MEMOIR OF 

unpaid printing bills, amoiintino; to nearly f 1400, in the 
aggreg-ate. These bills were also paid b}' Comrade 
Owens, and the Grand Army was allowed three years 
time in which to pay the debt. The deficit still due 
Comrade Stephenson was 1785.5(3, At the next annual 
encampment, the Adjutant reported some payment 
made on the debt due Comrade Owens; and at the 
fourth encampment the Adjutant was able to report 
the indetedness of $785.56 due Comrade Stephenson, 
and that of about $1400 due Comrade Owens, which 
they had failed to meet in their second year, as en- 
tirely liquidated. 

At the second annual convention, Gen. John A. 
Logan, of Illinois, was elected Commander-in-Chief to 
succeed Gen. S. A. Hurlbut. The rules in regard to 
the election of Adjutant-General were changed, and 
henceforth that office was filled by appointment. Gen. 
Logan appointed Gen. N. P. Chipman to succeed Dr. 
B. F. Stephenson, as Adj. -Gen'. G. A. R. 

In a remarkably short time after its origin, very few 
members of the G. A. R. outside of Illinois could have 
told who was the founder of the order. So soon after 
the founding as May 12, 1869. Adjutant Chipman, in 
his report to the third annual encampment G. A. R. 
makes the following remark, which was left on record: 

"Who were its (the G. A. R.'s) originators is rather 
a matter of tradition than record, although there can 
be no doubt that the late Adj't. Gen., B. F. Stephen- 
son, was one of the prime movers." And this, not- 
withstanding the fact that, in response to Gen. Chip- 
man's request, Dr. Stephenson had written and sent 
to him an account of the organization of the order. 
However, it may very probably be that the account 



DR. STEPHENSON. 5^ 

Dr. Stephenson sent Gen. Chipinan was not very de- 
tailed and not so clear as it seemed to the doctor ta 
have been. He often wrote carelessly. 

Concerning Dr. Stephenson as the originator of the 
G. A. R., Col. Grass, before alluded to in this work, 
writes : 

"The subject (of the G. A. K.) was very near to your 
father's heart. His love for the old soldier and his in- 
terest in and sj^mpathy for the soldier's widow and 
his orphans was deep, unselfish and intense. In our 
frequent conversations on the subject (of forming a 
national soldiers' union) I often laughingly spoke of 
it as his 'pet hobby.'" 

" I have been informed that certain parties are claim- 
ing the paternity of the name, Grand Army of the 
Republic. I know that their pretensions and claims 
are false. Your father and I frequently conversed about 
the name that should be given to the organization^ 
and when he brought his manuscript to me, as above 
stated, he said that he had decided to call the organ- 
ization 'The Grand Army of the Republic' I recollect 
saying to him that it was a grand name and ought 
to be retained." 

"Of course, I do not pretend to know when your 
father first conceived the idea of such an organiza- 
tion, nor have I any doubt but what he talked to 
and consulted with many of his old army friends in 
regard to the idea of such an organization as the 
G. A. R. But from my close acquaintance with him, 
and mj knowledge of the first organization of the 
order, I have no hesitancy in affirming that the grand 
'idea' of such a soldiers' organization originated 
alone with Dr. B. F. Stephenson, and that he is not 



60 A MEMOIR OF 

only the sponsor and god-father, but the actual 
father and sole originator of the society of the Grand 
Army of the Republic." 

"Abraham Lincoln was no more seriously in earnest 
when he issued the emancipation proclamation than 
was your father when he originated and organized the 
G. A. R." 

'^From the very start he was enthusiastically hope- 
ful ; not only hopeful, but, I sometimes thought, 
overweeningly sanguine. He never for a moment ex- 
pressed the slightest doubt of a grand success. He 
often and often said to me that every loyal soldier 
in the Union would come within its folds, and that 
through its instrumentality every soldier's widow and 
orphan would be provided for. In looking back 
through the long vista of years since I heard those 
kindly and cheering words, I can not but feel that 
they were the utterances of a hopeful and truly 
prophetic soul." 

In the frequent newspaper articles relating to the 
G. A. R., the founder is usually mentioned incidentally 
as "one of the founders of the order," or as an ob- 
scure person who "founded the first Post, at Decatur, 
111." 

It has of late years become quite the fad for orators 
and writers, when discoursing on the origin of the 
G. A.R., to affirm that the founder, or, more frequently, 
the founders, of this order little imagined to what 
greatness it would attain. I have seen this assertion 
very frequently in articles and enthusiastic orations 
pertaining to the G. A. R. People who speak in this 
manner of the dead who are no longer here to defend 
or explain themselves should reflect on what they do. 



DR. STEPHENSON. 61 

Why should it be taken for granted, as though it were 
g, foregone conclusion, that B. F. Stephenson wrought 
without knowledge and without inspiration? Do men 
spend time, enthusiasm, money, hard labor of brain 
and hand, for what they conceive to be a cause 
mediocre in importance? Are not the objects for 
which such expenditures are made at least imagined to 
be great? Was B. F. Stephenson a fool, to spend, as 
he spent himself, for something which he did not "real- 
ize" was destined to greatness? He, a poor man, had 
no assurance that the money he spent on the organiza- 
tion would ever be, in part, even, refunded. Was he, 
then, likely to throw it away on what he did not be- 
lieve would accomplish great good? Was he likely to 
have worked himself into a great enthusiasm over the 
order, and persevered in carrying out his plans of or- 
ganization in spite of discouragement on all sides; in 
spite of limited means and over-taxed time; in spite of 
jealousies and rivalries among the men he was trying 
to organize; in spite of all these drawbacks was he 
likely to have persisted, and accomplished his purpose, 
if he had not had a very clear vision in his mind's eye 
of what the order w^ould become in time; of what it 
would accomplish for the soldier and his family? There 
are living witnesses who could truthfully make oath 
that Dr. Stephenson had this clear vision of the de- 
stined greatness of his order. He, himself, has left 
written proof of the clearness of his vision, proof that 
he knew just what he was doing, that he w^rought with 
knowledge, with forethought, with design. 

A certain story has been running the rounds of 
G. A. R. circles, and seems to have gained some atten- 
tion even in high places. As nearly as I can recall it, 
the legend runs on this wise: 



62 A MEMOIR OF 

According to Chaplain W. J. Rutledge, of Jackson- 
-ville, 111., formerly chaplain of the 14th 111. Inf., Dr. 
Stephenson and he were talking together one evening 
over the cheerful camp-fire. It was while the troops 
were on the Meridian raid. In the course of the con- 
versation, which had turned on the prospects of sol. 
•diers on their return to private life, Chaplain Rutledge 
says that he exclaimed to Dr. Stephenson that it would 
be a glorious thing if, on the advent of peace, the sol- 
diers would form themselves into a society. On the 
grounds of this assertion. Chaplain Rutledge and his 
friends have based the claim that Chaplain Rutledge 
^rst suggested to B. F. Stephenson the idea of the 
<jrand Army of the Republic. 

. Of this claim I would say, first, Dr. B. F. Stephenson 
was a man at once just and generous. Elsewhere in 
this book he speaks of Mr. Rutledge in terms of high 
commendation, as a man who did gallant duty in the 
battle of Shiloh, thus showing that he (Dr. Stephen- 
son) bore no enmity to the chaplain, but rather was 
his friend. In these pages I have attempted to deline- 
ate my father's character as it really was, that of a 
man to whom the idea of defrauding any man of credit 
for merit justly due him, could scarcely, by any possi- 
bility, present itself as a temptation. The innate con- 
stitution of his mind forbade it. If, then, he was con- 
scious of owing the idea of the G. A. R. to Mr. W. J. 
Rutledge, would he not certainly have left a record of 
the fact? Would he not have mentioned it to some 
one, at least, of the many friends with whom he talked 
over his plans of organization? Would he not have 
mentioned the fact in his manuscript account of the 
organization? The fact of the case is, that none of 
the gentlemen connected with the early organization 



DR. STEPHENSON. 63 

seem to have heard of the Rev. Rutledo-e's alleo^ed con- 
nection with the founding of the order until they heard 
the story from the chaplain, himself, many j^ears after 
the order was established. One or two of the gentle- 
men who were in Dr. Stephenson's councils at the be- 
ginning, have told me that m^^ father never either said 
or implied that the Rev. W. J. Rutledge had anything 
to do with suggesting the idea of the G. A. R. to him, 
or mentioned Rutledge's name in connection with it. 
At the annual encampment of the Illinois Depart- 
ment, G. A. R., that of 1891, held in Decatur, 111., the 
surviving members of Dr. B. F. Stephenson's provis- 
ional staff, whom he had appointed when Provisional 
Commander-in-Chief, had a statement read before the 
assembled soldiers. I regret that my copy of this 
statement has been mislaid and presumably lost. I 
should like to quote it verbatim and give the names 
appended. This statement was drawn up at a special 
meeting of the surviving members of the staff for that 
especial object, and was to the effect that no one of 
the members had any knowledge of any connection 
■whatever of Chaplain W. J. Rutledge with the founding 
of the Grand Army of the Republic. This document, 
as mentioned above, was read before the department 
encampment of 1891, at Decatur, 111., and is to be de- 
posited in the National Memorial Hall, when that build- 
ing shall be erected, among the archives of the order, 
and there it may be found by the curious or doubtful. 
In Dr. Stephenson's short manuscript account of the 
organization he does not mention Mr. Rutledge's name, 
but says, explicitly, "The idea originated with me, in 
January, 1866.' The testimony of Dr. Stephenson 
and his helpers in this matter, viewed in the light of 
his character, force the conclusion that Dr. Stephenson 



64 A MEMOIR OF 

was not conscious of owin^ the idea of the G. A. R. 
to W. J. Eutledge. 

Far be it from me to impeach the veracity of the 
reve^^end oentleman. Doubtless he did converse with 
Dr. Stephenson at the time and place alleg-ed ; doubt- 
less, in the course of the conversation, the chaplain 
remarked that it would be a g'ood thing if the soldiers 
would form a union on disbanding. This conversa- 
tion, evidently, did not live as a unique thing in Dr. 
Stephenson's mind. Evidently he did not associate 
Mr. Eutledge with his (Stephenson's) own idea of the 
founding of the Grand Army of the Republic. During 
the latter days of the war, thoughtful soldiers often 
conversed about their prospects in the event of peace, 
what they would do on their return to their homes. 
One old soldier, a very dear friend of my father, tells 
me they (the soldiers) often talked together of what 
they would do on returning to their homes, the dan- 
gers attendant on disbanding large bodies of troops, 
the best course for the ex-soldiers to pursue, etc. In 
the numberless conversations held on these subjects it 
is altogether probable that many others expressed 
themselves in a manner similar to that in which Mr. 
Eutledge seems to have done, possibly Dr. Stephenson, 
himself, among the number. Mr. Rutledge, however, 
seems to be the only one who felt that he was war- 
ranted in asserting that he suggested the idea of the 
G. A. R. to its founder. 

If we should grant for the sake of argument that 
W. J, Rutledge was the only man who expressed the 
idea of a soldiers' union to Dr. Stephenson, and that 
Dr. Stephenson had never previously imagined such a 
thing, it would still appear to the unprejudiced mind 



DR. STEPHENSON. 6{l' 

that the chaplain and his friends were making much 
ado, if not about nothing, about an infinitesimal not 
much the hither side of zero. The chief American idea 
has always been union, and it has taken such hold of 
the public mind that we have unions for everything. 
In union there is strength; we all know it, and have 
many times seen it proved. The soldiers' intercvst 
then lay in protective union of some kind ; the idea 
was not very hard to evolve. I do not believe that 
Mr. Kutledge has ever claimed that he suggested any 
definite kind of union, such as Dr. Stephenson after- 
wards estabhshed, with grips and passwords, secret 
ritual, and thorough organization for permanent and 
effectual work. Granting these by no means proved 
premises, that Mr. Rutledge was the only man who 
ever mentioned union as a specific for soldiers' ills to 
Dr. Stephenson, during; his army life, we are not war- 
ranted in concluding that B. F. Stephenson was any 
more indebted to Mr. Rutledge for the idea of the G, 
A. R. than to the local unions which we have already 
seen had sprung up in several States previous to 
the founding of the Grand Army. And it might very 
naturally transpire that the man who conceived the 
idea of the G. A. R., not a vague union, who carried 
out his wide-reaching and effective plans, who spent 
freely his time, money, brain, muscle, and nerve-force 
in organizing the stupendous work, who carried to the 
work such pure motives and wrought with such zeal,, 
ability, and diplomatic skill that his self-sacrificing en- 
ergy seemed to have the magic of Aladdin's lamp and 
raise the mighty structure of his dreams in a night, 
as it were, it might well be that such a man would 
never have connected the vague suggestions of Chap- 
—5 



66 A MEMOIR OF 

lain Rutiedge with his own definite schemes. Even if 
he had chanced to remember the momentous conversa- 
tion, it is not likely that he would have supposed Mr. 
Hutledge attached any importance to it. 

Doubtless mauy thiuos tended to develop the idea of 
the G. A. R. in Dr. Stephenson's mind. All inventions 
are the gradual development of floating notions into 
ideas. In all probability he had as valid a claim to 
the origination of the idea of the order as most inven- 
tors and originators have to their inventions. I am 
convinced that Dr. Stephenson not only thought he 
was the originator of the idea, but that he really was. 

According to some of Mr. Rutledge's hyperbolical 
friends, he was "largely instrumental in founding the 
order," and, "but for him it would not exist at the 
present day." This seems strange language to any one 
cognizant of the facts of the case. I do not know 
that Mr. Rutiedge himself ever went so far in his 
claims as some of his frjends have gone for him, neither 
do I know that he has ever corrected their extrava- 
gant assertions. If he was so important a factor as 
his friends would have us believe, does it not seem 
strange that none of those associated with Dr. Ste- 
phenson in founding the order have "any knowledge 
of any connection of W. J. Rutiedge with the organiza- 
tion, whatever?" Verily, it is so strange that it is 
utterly inexplicable. Chaplain Rutiedge and his friends 
know that Dr. Stephenson is dead and can not speak 
for himself, but do they also think that all his friends, 
all those connected with the early organization, are 
dead, too, and that his family have no more knowl- 
edge than the beasts that perish? 



DR. STEPHENSON. 67 

From an article in the Century, for May, 1890, en- 
titled " The G. A. R. as Seen from the Inside," I gather 
that the writer, and, possibly, some others, have an 
idea floatino; indefinitely in their minds that the G. A. R. 
is a notable example of spontaneous g^eneration, — that 
it sprang up of its own free will, and flourished exceed- 
inoiy because it was its nature so to do. According 
to this writer, the organization was "shaped after the 
plan of an enthusiast. Dr. B. F. Stephenson, who or- 
ganized the first local society, or Post, at Decatur, 
Illinois, in 1860." 

"Although it was intended by the founders to make 
the movement a National one, the causes which lead 
to the rapid growth of the order throughout the North 
were quite outside of those that were operating from 
the little centre at Decatur, 111." He goes on to tell 
how, by 1866, Soldiers' Unions, under various names, 
had been formed in different States, some States hav- 
ing two or three of these unions, each and all having 
the avowed object of securing the w^elfare of the soldier. 

"The problem (of how the welfare of the soldier was 
to be secured) was a difficult one, especially as the 
meetings were held in open convention ; and experience 
gained in other fraternities suggested to the veterans 
that they abandon the convention method, unite under 
a strong vow, and adopt a system of instruction. In 
the winter of 1866-67 the Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic, which had started out with these features, a solemn 
oath and an impressive ritual, was brought to the at- 
tention of the soldiers throughout the North, and the 
veteran societies existing were rapidly changed into 
Posts and Departments of that order. The idea was 
very popular, and, at the second annual encampment 



68 A MEMOIR OF 

of the order held at Philadelphia, in January, 1868, 
there were representatives from twenty-one States. The 
strength of the movement lay in the west, and the 
delegates from Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio constituted 
one-half of the assembly. An Illinois veteran, Gen. 
John A. Logan, was elected Commander-in-Chief. This 
encampment was successful, and decided two very im- 
portant questions for the new association of veterans. 
It would be National and absorb all others; it would 
be secret and non-partisan. The exact lines on which 
so vast an organization would develop could not be 
fixed by resolutions or by-laws. Dr. Stephenson's 
ideas of secrecy and fraternity were sustained by a 
large following in the west, and the rules and the ritual 
that had originated with him, were retained with some 
amendment." 

I do not claim for my father any more praise than 
is justly due him. I desire merely to present the facts 
of his life, tell what he did, and let the soldiers decide 
how much gratitude and praise is equitably his due. 

I admit that the soldiers were ready for the G. A. R. 
when the idea was presented to them. They felt that 
their interests were not regarded as they should have 
been; that they were neglected. The remedy for this, 
of course, they saw was in union, and' they effected 
local unions. Dr. Stephenson conceived the idea of a 
National Union of a peculiarly effective kind, and, by 
spending time, money, thought and manual labor, or- 
ganized such, a union, and nourished it to the point of 
standing alone. Because the soldiers were ripe for this 
idea, is the one who exerted himself so much to perfect 
it, and to insure the ultimate success of the order, en- 
titled to no gratitude? 



DR. STEPHENSON. 69 

Miss Anna Ella Carroll, daughter of ex-Governor 
Carroll, of Maryland, devised a plan which was ulti- 
mately successful in the taking of Vicksburg. She in- 
duced the government to adopt this plan instead of 
the one which the government, in connection with the 
military authorities, had designed. The result was 
the capture of Vicksburg. Because the plan was to be 
kept secret until accomplished, Miss Carroll's name 
w^as not published at first in connection with it. Her 
case has been brought before the government three 
times, and still justice has not been done her. If she 
had been a Major General and had accomplished w^hat 
she has achieved, her fame would have been spread 
abroad from the lakes to the gulf. Honor and emolu- 
ment would have been her portion. But she was a 
person unknown to fame, and a woman. We reason 
with a fallacy worthy of Hume, himself, the experience 
of the world goes to show^ that great generals form 
the successful plans for campaigns, and, pitted against 
universal experience to the contrary, no amount of 
evidence can be sufficient to convince us that Miss 
Carroll has done anything worthy of reward. 

If my father had been a Major General he would 
have been lauded to the skies for what he has done. 
Being plain Dr. Stephenson, with a name unknown to 
fame, it is extremely difficult to convince the public 
that he merits any praise. 

But the soldiers were ripe for the G. A. R., ergo, it 
is to be supposed that the founder was a mere pro- 
duct of his era. In 1776. Americans were ready for in- 
dependence. The principle of liberty, which early germi- 
nated in the breasts of Englishmen, for centuries had 
been developing, until, in those hardy pioneers, men 



70 A MEMOIR OF 

chosen of God for the founding of a great nation, this 
principle had grown to such strength that they 
were ready to cast aside their swaddhng clothes, to 
throw prejudice to the winds. For this reason, then, 
shall we give the members of the Continental Congress, 
who signed the charter of our freedom, no credit for 
manliness,, for high moral courage, philanthropy, and 
patriotism? The attaint of treason to the government 
across the water, the danger of suffering the extreme 
penalty of the law, when weighed against the cause of 
their oppressed fellow-countrymen, sprang up, and 
they signed the Declaration like men. 

The real facts in the case, as recorded elsewhere in 
this book, show that it was Dr. Stephenson, and not 
"experience gained in other fraternities," that led the 
veterans to "unite under a strong vow and adopt a 
system of instruction." It was the same person who 
brought the G. A. R. "to the attention of the soldiers 
throughout the North." 

"The strength of the movement," sa^'s the Century 
writer, "lay in the West, and the delegates from Illi- 
nois, Indiana and Ohio constituted one-half of the 
assembly" (second annual convention G. A. R.). Let 
me ask. why was this? Were there braver soldiers, 
more distinguished officers, in the West than elsewhere 
in tlie republic? Leaving out Unconditional Surrender 
Grant, did our Western generals surpass the Eastern 
in fame and achievements? There were as many brave 
and gallant officers to be found in the old Bay State, 
the cradle of American liberty, as in any other. The 
soldiers of the Empire State were not behind others 
in prowess. The same might be said of the other 
Eastern and Middle States. The South furnished 



DR. STEPHENSON. 71 

many brave and crallant officers and men for the de- 
fense of the Union. Wh}^ then should the strengrth of 
this convention come from the West? The answer is 
plain. There had been a hand and a heart at work 
there. The G. A. R. was not a spontaneous fungus, 
but was rapidly developing under the guidance and 
energy of its founder. From the "little centre" of 
Decatur, 111., and vicinity, the germ was growing and 
spreading, rapidly, it is true, but under intelligent 
direction. Those nearest the centre were naturally 
most strongly affected by the impulse at work, those 
easiest reached, soonest organized. 

I do not know that I strongly object to my father 
being called an "enthusiast." Really, if it were not 
for the "enthusiasts" who have lived in the world, I 
cannot see how we should ever have emerged from the 
darkness of the Middle Ages, and am inclined to think 
we should still be groping there. The world needs 
enthusiasts. They can remove mountains and work 
miracles. It is mediocrity, alone, that can get on 
without enthusiasm. Was there ever anything great 
done without ^n enthusiast had hold of the lever? 
Enthusiasm is one great beauty which we admire in 
the young; blessed are they who carry into middle 
and old age this golden trait of youth. 



72 A MEMOIR OF 



PART IV. 



"Within this lowly grave a conqueror lies; 
And yet the monument proclaims it not, 
Nor round the sleeper's name hath chisel wrought 
The emblems of a fame that never dies — 
Ivy and amaranth in a graceful sheaf 
Twined with the laurel's fair, imperial leaf, 
A simple name alone, 
To the great world unknown, 
Is graven here, and wild flowers rising round 
Meek meadow-sweet and violets of the ground, 
Lean lovingly against the humble stone. 

Here, in the quiet earth, they laid apart 

1^0 man of iron mould and bloody hands. 

Who sought to wreak upon the cowering lands 

The passion that consumed his restless heart : 
********* 

One in whose eyes the *nile of kindness made 
Its haunt, like flowers by sunny brooks in May ; 

Yet at the thought of others' pain, a shade 
Of sweeter sadness chased the smile away." 

After tlie year 1869, my father beo-an to feel seri- 
ously the effects of his army life, and his health com- 
menced to decline rapidly. Business troubles oppressed 
him. His circumstances were not o-ood. The practice 
of medicine, with its incident exposures and irregular 
hours, was not conducive to the improvement of his 
health. Havino- been a stanch republican from the 
rise of the party, and havino; taken an active part in 
State politics since the war, he made several attempts 
to obtain an office of some kind that he might give 



/ 



DR. STEPHENSON. 73 

up the practice of medicine, which was hurtful to him, 
and support his family in comfort. He, at leng^th, 
succeeded in gettiuj^ appointed to one of the smaller 
offices in the patronage of the government, but before 
entering on its duties he was oblio-ed to resign it on 
account of his rapidly failing health. 

A little incident which occurred about this time was 
related to me by Gen. James C. Veatch, commander 
of the 2d Brigade, 4th Division, 16th Army Corps, 
Army of the Tennessee. My father was one of Gen. 
Veatch's staff officers during the war. 

"Our last meeting," writes the General, "was at 
Washington City, where we both attended the inaugu- 
ration of Gen. Grant as President. 

"On leaving and bidding him good-bye, 1 expressed 
a hope that we should soon meet again. He replied, 
*No, we shall most likely not see each other again,' 
and drawing from his watch chain a little charm with 
the face of Washington on one side and Lincoln on 
the other, said, ' Here are the pictures of two of the 
greatest and purest men that ever lived. I know of 
no friend to whom I would sooner give it than to you. 
Wear it in memory of our friendship begun on the 
tented field, but which will last while we live.'" An 
incident worthy of a warm-hearted friend and a pure, 
noble-minded patriot! 

My father's health continued to decline and his busi- 
ness troubles increased with his failing health. Finally, 
in the winter of 1870-71, he left Springfield and re- 
moved to Rock Creek, near his father's old home, 
whither, in his early days on graduating in medicine, 
he had aone to recruit his health. 



74 A MEMOIR OF 

Here, at ten o'clock A. M., August 30, 1871, Dr. 
Stephenson died in what should have been the prime 
of his manhood, before he had completed his forty- 
eighth year. 

Dr. Stephenson was buried at first in the little coun- 
try cemetery at Kock Creek, but was afterwards rein- 
terred by Estill Post No. 71. G. A. R.,on the 29th of 
August, 1882, eleven j^ears after his death. The re- 
interment was conducted with appropriate ceremonies, 
and the remains of the founder of the Grand Army of 
the Republic now lie in Rose Hill Cemetery, Peters- 
burg, Illinois. He left a widow, son, and two daughters. 

I feel that it would not be inappropriate to give 
here some of the expressions of esteem and friendship 
which Dr. Stephenson's old friends have made concern- 
ing him. 

General Veatch writes of Dr. Stephenson: "My old 
friend whose heart and head were always alive to the 
cause of our country and its defenders." 

His friend, Judge J. H. Matheny, of Springfield, Illi- 
nois, says of him: "Dr. Stephenson was a true man in 
its highest and grandest sense, true to his friends and 
true to his country. A kinder heart never beat in a hu- 
man breast, and his whole life was characterized by an 
utter unselfishness. He was a patriot, simple and pure, 
and his devotion to the great cause of universal free- 
dom was absolutely unwavering." 

Major John F. Nolte, Independence, Kansas, says of 
his life-long friend, B. F. Stephenson: "That brave, 
unselfish, generous, tender-hearted man ; a man always 
ready to do for others." 



DR. STEPHENSON. 75 

There is much good in human nature, and our friends, 
God bless them, are prone to find the nobility hidden 
even in the most obdurate bosoms, but surely the sub- 
ject of the above tributes was a man whose heart was 
fashioned after Divine Nature's most beautiful mold 
and imbued with her sunniest smile. All mankind were 
his brethren ; he found a friend and neighbor in each 
suffering human, Could the grateful tears of the wid- 
ows and orphans, the friendless women and children, 
whom he has succored, whom he has restored to health, 
whose gratitude was all he would receive, could these 
tears be gathered up, they would offer a tribute more 
eloquent than tongue could utter, or pen transcribe. 

Dr. Stephenson was not a professor of religion, but 
he was one to whom the performance of the golden 
rule seemed natural, the universal law of love and 
justice seemed innate. He reverenced those who lived 
true Christian lives, and loved to inculcate in his chil- 
drediij principles of truth and honesty. Doubtless he 
had faults, like all mortals, but his virtues so tran- 
scended his faults, that, happy destiny! his friends in 
looking at his life as a whole scarcely remember his 
foibles. 

His was a beautiful life ! A life of generous thought 
and labor for others, of high aims and noble purposes. 
And truly the purity of his motives, the loftiness of 
his aims, and the beneficence of his achievements, may 
well overshadow some frailties common to our poor 
humanity. Of a truth it may be said of him, the world 
is better, men are nobler, the poor are richer, for his 
life. 



76 



A MEMOIR OF 



Through the mournful breath of the cypress bough, 

Comes an undertone of cheer ; 
The spirits of Love and of Justice avow : 

"Lo, one of our own lies here!" 
Laid low in the mold 

Let him sleep! 
The Lord of the Sickle, old, 

With him his ancient tryst did keep ; 

The fruition of his heart-throes his brethren shall reap. 




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